See also Focus Groups 101. The good folk at NEON have been very busy lately, producing a wonderfully helpful array of guides and tools. Also see their UN Climate Talks messaging guide, and how to talk about demonstrations (not ‘protests’). Keen for more? Reach out to funmibi@neweconomyorganisers.org 

A recording of the intro to MIC’s project, which aims to “provide change-makers, thinkers and practitioners with elements of a blueprint for a widely shared new story for a better tomorrow.” 

A new gathering, seeking to explore “collective experiences, energies and intuition as racially-minoritised people”, focused on “Collective being, sense-making, and envisioning”.

Or rather, let’s not. The culture war is a trap, one we must avoid. It will take humility and listening skills, and (taking a leaf out of the populist reactionaries playbook) the building of broad political coalitions. (Also listen to Paul Mason seeking a similar approach to tackle fascism, and Sally Kohn on ‘emotional correctness’).

A beautiful, practical reflection on RP’s work so far, looking at the central role and power of relationships for the world we hope to create, and how to go about establishing them.

How best can we foster the ‘locally-legitimate’ collective action we need on climate? Our digital tools, so often in our way, can play a powerful role. The map of action alone is super helpful.

Nodding to Hannah Arendt and Rosa Parks, Sutoris demands “bold, imaginative solutions addressing the flaws of our culture and politics that don't come out of the predictability of behavior change, but from the novelty of action.”

A sudden flurry of activity leaves us with three very useful reports. This one looking at narrative form, as well as a piece on talking about poverty, and an investigation of how other fields think about narrative.

In July 2021 we heard from Green Alliance about how best to talk about ‘Green Jobs’. This brings some of that guidance to life in what is a very human and hopefully effective film.

How to challenge wrongdoing while still creating space for growth, forgiveness and fun, by ‘calling in’ or ‘calling on’, instead of ‘calling out’ – this generation’s ‘non-violent direct action’.

Challenging our culture’s degraded view of ‘myths’, as an introduction to her new book: A Future Untold: The power of story to transform the world and ourselves.

Our narrative about land “lies at the root of some of our biggest social challenges, from the housing crisis, to climate change, to the demise of the high street” – this proposes a strategy to change it.