Rachel Weidinger

Whose Narrative Matters: DIY Narrative Research Methods in Narrative Organizing

Narrative organizing is more than altering words; it's about shifting power dynamics and constructing systems that empower communities. This session proposes exploring DIY narrative research methods to advance racial justice through narrative organizing. We'll delve into the fundamental question: Whose narrative matters?

In this session, we’ll teach you how narrative research recognizes narrative power and generates research outcomes to build the common good. Recognizing that research is labor, we'll explore the importance of providing stipends and adopting trauma-aware approaches in both group and individual interviews.

Approaching research projects can be overwhelming, so we’ll share our tips on how to design research projects with accountability in mind, select research participants and advisory boards, conduct interviews, and identify deep narratives. To assist in the latter, we’ll also launch the Narrative Index—a reference set of helpful and harmful narratives common to narrative organizing for racial justice, like interdependence and independence.

This session will emphasize the significance of relationship-building and trust in DIY research. While practical skills like selecting advisory boards are valuable, true impact often lies in the micro-interactions that shape our landscaping and analysis work. Acknowledging this, we'll offer insights into fostering genuine connections that drive meaningful change.

Participants will leave equipped with a practical toolkit and a deeper understanding of how DIY narrative research can contribute to their power-building goals through narrative organizing. Join us for a session full of learning how to do the work of identifying narratives and reshaping the future of our communities towards justice.