Narratives for Change Fellowship
This Fellowship will bring together 15 advocates, artists and storytellers who are all interested in changing the narrative across multiple and intersecting kaupapa to bring about an Aotearoa where all whānau flourish.
Together, we’ll strengthen our individual and collective skills, practice and connections to build power and transform mindsets and dominant narratives to ones that better serve people and Papatūānuku.
The two-year programme covers a deep-dive into narratives for change
The programme will cover:
How to develop narrative strategies that are strengths-based, systems-change focused and grounded in lived expertise, research evidence and reflective practice
How to develop and test narratives that will shift hearts and minds on the kaupapa you care about
How to use those narratives in communication, advocacy, campaigning, storytelling, reporting, art, culture and creative practice
How to measure the impact of your narrative change strategies and initiatives
How to ground your work for justice in healing, rest, joy and love
The Fellowship will include in-person hui, online workshops, discussion groups, practical exercises and peer mentor support. The exact design and shape of the programme will be codesigned with, and by, you. Successful Fellows will have all of their costs covered to attend, though there is a significant time commitment involved (more in the FAQ below).
For decades, the dominant narrative on these lands has been driven by a narrow range of people: mostly white, straight, male, cisgender, middle and upper class and non-disabled folk. The dominant stories have their origins in colonialism, capitalism, ableism, patriarchy and cis-heteronormativity. This programme will transform that by building a community of practice that is grounded in values of love and care, well-versed in evidence-based strategies for narrative change and powered by people with lived experience of the oppressions that are upheld by harmful dominant narratives.
As a Tiriti-led kaupapa, 50% of our Fellowship spots are also reserved for Māori.
If you are the person in your community, movement or institution who enjoys storytelling for social change, uplifting and supporting others, building power across difference and sharing your learnings with others - then this opportunity is for you.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to find out more and apply below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key dates for the Fellowship
Here is what you can expect from the Fellowship over the next six months:
24 July - 27 August: Applications open
28 August - 15 September: Shortlisting, interviews and selection
18 - 22 September: All applicants contacted with outcome
1 - 15 October: 1:1 welcome calls and information packs sent out
7 - 9 November: The first hui will take place in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) for two days and two nights
December/January: 1:1 debrief calls and survey for feedback on the hui + input into the program design for the next 12 months
What can I expect from the Fellowship?
We have drawn on the wisdom, experience and aspirations of our team, collaborators and advisors to come up with a proposed shape and structure for these two years, but much of the detail will be co-designed by and with you.
Together, we’ll identify where our solutions and struggles intersect and create narrative strategies and tactics to shift our shared kaupapa to a place where people and Papatūānuku flourish.
Much of the evidence-base for this Fellowship is grounded in research and implementation from the team at The Workshop over the past five years. You’ll also learn from a range of guest facilitators and trainers with expertise in a variety of methodologies in narrative change e.g. poetry, public speaking and media, writing, public advocacy and the arts. In time, we hope to create the conditions where you’ll also share lessons and insights generously with each other.
Here is an overview of what our time together will look like:
2023: Whakawhanaungatanga
On 7 - 9 November, we’ll bring everyone together for an in-person hui where you’ll have the opportunity to build trusting relationships and a community of practice, care and solidarity.
2024: Co-Creating Stories and Intersectional Solutions
Through a range of in-person hui, online workshops and discussion groups, we’ll:
Identify our individual and collective goals, strengths, struggles and solutions
Map the narrative landscape, analysing unhelpful dominant narratives (including deficit narratives) from multiple perspectives
Develop and test new and ancient more helpful narratives through multiple methodologies and with different audiences
Build skills in embodied practices for healing justice and transformative change
2025: Amplifying Our Stories and Celebrating Our Work
Implement our narrative strategy in different ways to different audiences - sharing our stories and calls to action
Building and sustaining movements to shift narratives together
Strengthening practices for healing justice and collective wellbeing
Reflect, celebrate and transition into a self-supporting community of practice (we’ll support you to do this!)
The Fellowship will include 2 - 3 in-person hui, regular webinars and workshops - the exact dates and timings are to be confirmed and will take into account the schedules of the cohort.
Who are the trainers?
Marianne and Lake
The two lead facilitators for this Fellowship are:
Marianne Elliott (she/her) is the co-Director of The Workshop. Marianne is a legally-trained narrative researcher, strategist and writer who has used research, advocacy, campaigning and storytelling to build power and support for change in New Zealand and elsewhere over the past two decades. Marianne has significant experience implementing research-informed narrative strategies in communications, campaigns and advocacy on a wide range of human rights and environmental issues including mental health, criminal justice and whānau wellbeing.
Te Raukura and their pup Franklin
Te Raukura (formerly Laura) O’Connell Rapira (they/them/ia) is the Director of The Pod: Centre for Healing Justice. Te Raukura is from Te Ātiawa, Ngāruahine, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whakaue and Country Kerry in Ireland. They are an experienced campaigner, community organiser, strategist, facilitator, trainer, people and project manager, youth worker and writer. Te Raukura is the co-founder of the Youth Movement Fund Aotearoa, a participatory grant-making trust that backs youth movements to change the world.
Prior to their current roles, Marianne and Te Raukura were both Directors of ActionStation, an independent community campaigning organisation that influences political decisions so they are better for people and Papatūānuku. They have collaborated closely in a variety of roles over that past decade.
There will also be a range of guest facilitators and trainers with different lived experiences and methodologies in narrative change e.g. poetry, public speaking and media, writing, the arts.
Who is funding this project?
The Workshop has been funded by the Peter McKenzie Project to help advocates working for whānau wellbeing build skills in narrative strategy, developing and testing new narratives, give them experience developing, testing and using their own new narratives and build connections and a community of practice around narratives for change.
Who can participate in the Fellowship?
The Fellowship is open to anyone who:
is currently working to create changes that will make a big difference to the wellbeing of whānau in Aotearoa (this may be paid or unpaid work)
is particularly interested in the role of narratives in creating the conditions for those changes
is able to commit the time needed to complete the Fellowship (more details on this below)
wants to make connections and collaborate with others working for change
is committed to sharing and using the skills they develop through this Fellowship with others.
The cohort will be made up of 15 people from across Aotearoa with 50% of our placements reserved for Māori. We’re looking for:
Artists e.g. visual, storytelling, performing
People in grassroots movements
People in kaupapa Māori orgs
People in progressive NGOs
Media and journalists
Other communicators e.g. lobbyists, advertisers, communications specialists
What does the Fellowship cost?
The Fellowship is free for successful Fellows and costs like travel and accommodation will all be covered. There is a significant time commitment involved. We estimate this to be 28 days over 24 months as follows:
Gatherings and full day workshops (10 days)
Weekly workshops: 90mins per week (9 days)
90mins per week in self-directed work (9 days)
We are currently fundraising to pay those participants who need it a stipend to help cover the costs of attending. Priority for any available stipends will go to people who would be doing this Fellowship outside of paid work and who would not be able to take part without the stipend (e.g. people in grassroots movements, artists and journalists).
If you are interested in helping to fund these placements, please get in touch with Marianne on marianne@theworkshop.org.nz
How will grantees be chosen and what is the selection criteria?
A selection panel made up of Marianne Elliott, Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira, Elyssia Ra’nee Wilson-Heti and Huhana Hickey will review all of the applications.
We are looking for people with an orientation towards: future building, open-mindedness, community mindedness, genuinely interested in narrative change, willing to learn, see the value in cross-cultural and kaupapa exchange and working for people and planet.
Through the selection process, we will ensure the cohort has a mix of ages, lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, kaupapa represented and methodologies used so that we can build strength, solidarity and kinship across our differences. 50% of the placements in our Fellowship will be allocated to Māori.
Who can I contact for more information?
Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here? You can reach out to Te Raukura on teraukura@thepod.org.au or Marianne on marianne@theworkshop.org.nz.
You can also book a time to kōrero with Te Raukura here.
Apply for the Fellowship
Fill in the Survey Monkey form linked below to apply for the Narratives for Change Fellowship.
If you would like to see the questions and draft your responses before inputting them into the Application Form you can view this google doc.
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