Nadia Khastigir

Narrative Strategy for Advancing Racial Equity in Government

Our work to advance a just, multiracial democracy is on contested territory with campaigns that create distrust in government. So it is imperative to strategically leverage a meaningful narrative that moves your key stakeholders — whether internal or external — with a compelling vision for turning government into a force for equity and justice. Through misinformation campaigns and plans like Project 2025 and corporate takeovers of the media, the right has in effect stifled the public’s political imagination to dream of new possibilities for our communities and future. Status quo myths and narratives infiltrate our society, through the media and pop culture, and hold us back from dreaming big. How do we effectively challenge harmful narratives? How are we not just countering or reinforcing dominant narratives but elevating our own narratives for justice, equity, and democracy? What are strategic interventions we can make to interrupt the dominant narratives, and compel hearts and minds to resonate with our stories?

In this interactive, introductory session, you will learn some of the core concepts of narrative strategy and the elements to be able to craft your own narrative strategy. This session is participatory and you will practice identifying and crafting stories that lift up narratives that advance a just, multiracial democracy.

Speakers: Nadia Khastigir, Nadia Mohamed, Fronsy Thurman