Your Next Beat: Civic Culture
A call for storytellers, journalists, and content creators to explore how to tell stronger “stories of us” that strengthen our social fabric & help America find its way forward.
How do we craft stories that help us move forward after the 2024 election? Our nation needs new civic narratives — of who we are, and who we can be. We need stories that show the groundswell of everyday Americans who are changing the culture of their communities towards connection, repair, and progress.
Join this engaging webinar for journalists, storytellers, and content creators who are — or want to be! — champions for lifting up these stories that help our country heal our divisions and find our way forward. You’ll learn practical recommendations to help from storytelling and messaging experts, convened by Citizen University.
Monday, December 9
10:00–11:15 am PT / 1:00–2:15 pm ET
Who’s this for?
This is for trusted messengers who are telling stories that help Americans feel more hopeful, activated, and sustained in fortifying their communities and strengthening democracy. Those such as…
- Journalists and writers who cover topics around strengthening their communities and our democracy
- Storytellers and content creators who use their platforms to shape American consciousness for the common good
- Civic-minded Americans who are using their voice to catalyze more unifying and trust-building activity
Who will we be learning from?
These civic practitioners will share a wealth of resources, tips, and examples from the field of civic storytelling, messaging, and journalism.
Why civic culture
with Eric Liu | Co-Founder and CEO, Citizen University
Eric is an author, former White House speech writer, and civic evangelist.
More about Eric & Citizen University→
How Americans perceive civic language
with Kevin Singer | Communications Support Lead, Philanthropy for Civic Engagement (PACE)
Kevin writes about religion and politics and will be sharing insights found from PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project.
More about Kevin & PACE→
Civic storylines that change culture
with Aya Taveras | Director of Community, Cinereach & Brooke Moreland | Director of Learning & Design, Cinereach
Aya and Brookes’s narrative change work helps bridge the gap between social impact storytelling and popular culture.
More about Aya, Brooke, & Cinereach →
Complicating the Narrative for good
with Shia Levitt | News Ambassadors
Shia is an accredited trainer of Solutions Journalism and of a depolarization reporting strategy called Complicating the Narratives. She brings a wealth of experience as a longtime public radio reporter/producer and editor.
More about Shia & Solutions Journalism →
Why this workshop, and why now?
Civic culture shapes how we treat one another and whether we care for our community. It shapes how we show up to solve common problems and whether we are able to disagree without hating one another.
The 2024 election reminded us of the deep fissures in our nation’s civic culture. At times it seems Americans are speaking different languages with one another, or that the dominant narratives of division are the only path forward.
But so much of this country is yearning for a different culture, a healthier way of being America. And countless community members are already doing so, even if they’re not getting mainstream media coverage they deserve.
Our nation needs new “stories of us” that give common purpose and show how a stronger civic culture is possible — and happening. This webinar will help you narrate the nation we can be, by examining what shapes our culture, what language activates and unites, and what kinds of stories will help a stronger culture take hold.
Questions? Reach out to Natalie Valentine ([email protected]).
“Uncovering the narratives that invite Americans in is an integral aspect of a healthy civic culture. Such narratives bind people together. Whether bridging the gap between longtime residents and newcomers in a town, rallying support for a local cause, or creating a new national holiday, the “story of us” is a potent tool for building consensus toward a common purpose. In America’s ongoing debate over identity, these stories can help citizens shift from inaction to common action.
What’s the outcome?
You’ll add evidence-based recommendations to your toolbelts to help expand how you frame and produce stories of Americans who are strengthening our social fabric. You’ll learn how to talk about civic culture in ways that connect with your audience — and that catalyze their contributions to it. In addition to hearing from language, framing, and storytelling experts, you’ll have the chance to share and workshop your own ideas. You’ll also receive a messaging guide that summarizes the recommendations and provides additional resources.
We hope that this will deepen and expand your own commitment to telling stories of civic culture in practice. Whether that is a new beat for 2025, a focus for upcoming stories, or even a new way of writing about culture, you are an essential part of narrating our nation’s way forward.
Eric Liu unpacks civic culture, responsibility, and the tenor of the times.
A Place of Possibility
How Atlanta’s civic leaders share mutual aid to propel each other’s projects
