Page Gardner kicked off the series on narratives, beginning with a discussion on definitional issues. Moderated by Erica Williams Simon, the expert panel included Laura Hughes and Joseph Phelan, who explored how to craft memorable and transformative narrative arcs.

Key Takeaways From the Discussion:

• Narrative is more than a story — it’s the deeper patterns of meaning that connect stories together.

• A strong narrative arc begins by defining the problem (the world as it is), ends with a compelling vision of the world we want, and places “us” — our solutions and actions — in the middle.

• Successful narratives have driven social change, from the civil rights movement to marriage equality, showing that we have the ability to shape history through storytelling.

• We need to reconnect with the art of narrative building by understanding audiences on a deeper level — not just through demographics, but through culture, values and lived experiences.