Transformative Storytelling: From Personal to Policy Change

Everyone talks about the power of storytelling—but not every story moves us toward meaningful systems and policy change.

Yes, personal stories can inspire. But poorly framed stories can reinforce stereotypes and obscure the broader issues at stake. To support meaningful change, our stories need to do more than evoke sympathy—they must illuminate the causal drivers of social problems and guide audiences toward policy solutions and systems change.

That’s how this workshop is different. Using principles from cognitive and social science, as well as Marshall Ganz’s renowned Public Narrative framework, this workshop equips participants to craft narratives that:

Highlight systemic causes and solutions, not just individual experiences.
Build collective action and inspire policy change.
Avoid reinforcing unproductive stereotypes or blame.

What You’ll Learn

In this workshop, you’ll gain tools and insights to ensure your stories:

Represent the populations most impacted by the issues.
Focus attention on the larger trends driving inequities.
Empower audiences to see and support policy solutions.

This is interactive in its virtual form, and hands-on in its in-person form. It is designed for organizations and advocates ready to align their storytelling with their broader mission for social change, and who communicate to policymakers, the media and the public about social problems.

Lynn Davey, Ph.D. is a former psychology professor turned social issue framing and communications strategist. With years of experience both conducting and translating social and framing science research into actionable strategies for advocates, she has worked with scientists, public health experts and policy advocates to improve public understanding of complex social issues like child development, racial equity, violence prevention, mental health and poverty.

Lynn’s approach is rooted in science, not PR and marketing, and she specializes in helping advocates use storytelling to advance meaningful policy change.

Pricing Options & Packages

Tier 1 — Storytelling Foundations Package (Virtual) — $5,000
Build your storytelling skills with a focused, hands-on workshop designed to lay the groundwork for impactful narratives. Perfect for small to mid-sized teams ready to start shifting conversations toward systems change.
- One 90-minute remote workshop
- Customized examples and case studies for your issue area
- Recording access (internal use only)
- One (60-minute, remote) post-workshop Coaching Clinic** for participants (within 2 weeks of workshop)
**additional Coaching Clinics can be built into any package if desired

Tier 1 — Storytelling Foundations Package (In-Person) — $7,500
Build your storytelling skills with a focused, hands-on workshop designed to lay the groundwork for impactful narratives. Perfect for small to mid-sized teams ready to start shifting conversations toward systems change.
- One 3-hour in-person workshop* for up to 30 participants
- Customized examples and case studies for your issue area
- One (60-minute, remote) post-workshop Coaching Clinic** for participants (within 2 weeks of workshop)
*travel costs included in fee
**additional Coaching Clinics can be built into any package if desired

Tier 2 — Storytelling Momentum Package — $10,000
Accelerate your impact with additional framing analysis and coaching — designed to help your organization/coalition gain momentum in driving policy and systems solutions.
Everything in the foundations package, plus:
- Post-workshop customized messaging audit and feedback of participant communications (up to 10 different materials; can include video, social media, legislative testimony, presentations, infographics, white papers and op-eds, etc.)
- Written framing analysis of the audit, including recommended strategies

Now booking into 2026. Click to schedule a meeting and learn more!

Let's Talk

Helping experts and advocates improve public understanding of social problems and build support for social change.
428 Fore Street, 4th Floor, Portland, ME 04101 | Phone: 207.773.6356

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