Crafting Impact Through Storytelling
This fall, Athena rolled out Storytelling for Change, a community of practice for changemakers interested in harnessing the art of visual and narrative storytelling methods to champion their causes.
Guided by guest expert Ugonna Okpalaoka, participants took on three interconnected projects: a photo essay, an audio story, and a video about their causes, honing their technical and creative skills through their individual projects while building community — and the skills of giving and receiving feedback — with one another.
As a storyteller herself, Okpalaoka has created a powerful body of work, amplifying narratives from women, immigrants, queer individuals, and overlooked communities through her work on documentaries, short films, and more — for example, as co-producer of Picturing the Obamas, a feature-length documentary. “Ugonna is incredibly talented and knowledgeable,” says Bella Ritter ’26, an undeclared major. Jojo Manning ‘27, an English major, agrees. “She was the best possible person to lead our group, she had so much skill and experience but also had such a great spirit and passion that made her so fun to work with.”
Ugonna not only shared her expertise but also brought other experts into the community, introducing participants to Ranjani Chakraborty (video journalist and producer at Vox), Mylan Cannon (photojournalist whose work can be seen in The New York Times and The Boston Globe), and Kim Fox (creator of the award-winning (Ehky Ya Masr, Tell Your Story Egypt) podcast and a Professor of Practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at The American University in Cairo).
Chakraborty, Cannon, and Fox shared their go-to strategies for crafting compelling messages to foster understanding and spark action. They also offered valuable insight into their careers, providing a glimpse into the professional world of storytelling,
“I loved when Ugonna brought in outside experts,” says English major Theresa Cullen ‘27, and Neuroscience Mandy Meliker ‘27 agrees. “Every meeting with them had a clear goal to help advance our learning.”
Participants in Storytelling for Change took on a wide range of topics through their storytelling — from gender identity to climate anxiety, and navigating cultural differences. But the common thread between them was increasing the public’s awareness and understanding of their topics — key ingredients for shaping a better world.
“This community allowed me to explore my creative side in ways I never have before. It gave me the freedom to express myself on any topic,” continues Jojo. Theresa echoes her sentiment. “It taught me to take creative risks, and how to value my own ideas and personal voice.”
Passionate about a cause? Ready to use your talents as a storyteller to advance it? Storytelling for Change returns in Spring 2024—join the movement! Learn more about the community of practice and our new Storyteller Guest Expert here.