Public Narrative: Inspiring Action
Posted in its entirety, this is one of the weekly assignments for my online Integral Politics course at JFKU. In other words, it's a bit wordy.
The following is my attempt at forming a Public Narrative, as taught by Marshal Ganz, Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Ganz’s long-time career organizing laborers led to the Camp Obama training program for campaign workers and eventually to Organizing for America (Camp OFA). Relationships, rather than platforms, fueled the Obama campaign, and articulating a story of self; a story of us; and a story of now connects diverse people despite the supposed differences in values and passions.
What do I care about and what challenges have I faced to get here? Telling this story turns me into a real person and you and me into an “us.”
Who defines the “us” I would call on to face an urgent collective challenge and take action? This is the present—and hopefully the future—of political engagement. This kind of politics, I could get behind.
I believe I am called to think deeply, extend grace to others, and to engage in creative acts. This is how I know:
