Effective Advocacy: Turning Data into Stories that Work

At kidsdata.org, we aim to give you the data you need to tell the stories you need to tell, whether those stories are about policies that need to change, programs that need support, or issues that need attention. New research commissioned by Child Advocacy 360 sheds light on the kinds of stories that move people to action on behalf of children and youth.

According to this report, child advocates will be most effective when they tell stories focused on solutions, not just problems. In their efforts to raise awareness about the problems facing many children and youth, advocates may undermine their effectiveness, leaving people with a feeling that “nothing works.” In contrast, effective stories about the many programs and policies that make a difference for children achieve the following:

• Connect to the Community: Help people see how communities can address the problems children face, rather than seeing children only in the context of individual families
• Help People See the Big Picture: Highlight several kinds of solutions to problems, or illuminate the role of public structures in solving the problem
• Reinforce the Need: Stories position the solutions they’re advocating as necessary, not just nice
• Invite and Inspire Action: Offer examples of people who are doing what you want others to do
• Demonstrate Effectiveness: Provide evidence that the proposed solutions work

You can find a video highlighting the report’s key findings, along with the full report and recommendations for advocates, here: http://sparkaction.org/content/telling-right-stories-new-national-research-messaging-child-advoc

How do you weave data into compelling stories? Please share your own examples from grant proposals, public testimony, letters to the editor, etc.

Posted by Sarah Marxer

This entry was posted on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 5:36 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.