We are pleased to share an article entitled “Harnessing The Power Of Storytelling ~ How coaches can learn from the Sundance Institute, FEMA and RNPN“ written by Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs.
In 2024, the Sundance Institute joined forces with FEMA’s Resilient Nation Partnership Network (RNPN) to spotlight storytelling as a transformative tool for advancing natural hazard resilience. This unique collaboration bridged the arts and emergency management sectors, demonstrating how narrative-driven approaches can inspire communities to confront climate challenges and take action.
For coaches, this partnership offers powerful lessons about the role of storytelling in fostering resilience, connection and empowerment in their practice.
A PARTNERSHIP ROOTED IN STORYTELLING
The partnership centered on two flagship initiatives: the Storytelling Masterclass at the American Planning Association’s 2024 National Planning Conference and the RNPN Partnership Forum, which showcased Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire.
Each week of the forum featured a documentary film that illuminated real-world narratives of communities navigating the impacts of climate change. These stories provided a rich context for conversations around themes like climate migration, resilient agriculture, and the evolving risks of extreme heat.
Stories can help people understand complex concepts, foster empathy, and move people to act. Featured artist Andrew Burton, director of the film Newtok, shared that the power of storytelling “is to show an audience something that they didn’t know, to break down walls, and build bridges.”
For the Sundance Institute, a champion of independent storytelling since its founding by Robert Redford in 1981, the partnership underscored its mission to connect film to audiences, amplify diverse voices and center artists in critical conversations of our time.
FEMA and RNPN, representing a coalition of over 1,600 organizations, recognized the potential of these stories to catalyze action. Together, they highlighted how cross-sector collaboration can foster inclusive conversations, elevate underrepresented perspectives, and engage nontraditional audiences.
LESSONS IN RESILIENCE FOR COACHES
The principles of this collaboration resonate deeply with coaches, who often serve as catalysts for change in their clients’ lives. The following takeaways illustrate how storytelling can enrich coaching practices.
- Fostering Emotional Connections Stories evoke empathy and create a shared emotional foundation for action. In the forum, for example, Newtok (directed by Michael Kirby Smith, Andrew Burton and Marie Meade) provides a moving immersion into a tiny Yup’ik village on the verge of erasure due to sea level rise.
This film was the cornerstone of a conversation about tribal migration highlighting the human cost of displacement associated with climate migration. Film participant and Yup’ik village leader Della Carl shared about her participation in the film and her community’s experience with tribal migration: “It has allowed other agencies to really see the need and seek our help because this is real. It’s raw, it’s new, and it’s still ongoing.” For coaches, emotional storytelling can build trust and connection, enabling clients to engage more deeply with their own challenges and aspirations. - Empowering Diverse Voices A standout element of the partnership was its commitment to inclusive storytelling. The stories showcased in the forum highlighted underrepresented communities grappling with climate change in innovative and courageous ways. The forum prioritized inclusivity by showcasing voices from marginalized communities. JuanMa Pagàn Teitelbaum, director of the film Stewards of the Land, said his film “showcased landless ecological farmers striving to produce healthy food for local consumption in Puerto Rico” – an overlooked community. “It’s very important to be able to say these stories,” Teitelbaum noted. “We know farmers who have never been to a movie theater, older farmers who decided to go, and they were excited and exhilarated seeing their faces in the theaters, seeing their stories being told.” Inclusive storytelling fosters a sense of belonging and broadens perspectives, enriching the problem-solving process.
- Transforming Challenges Into Solutions In coaching, as in climate resilience, storytelling helps reframe narratives. Obstacles become opportunities, and setbacks become catalysts for growth. Valencia “Vee” Gunder, founder of The Smile Trust and a participant in the f ilm Razing Liberty Square (directed by Katja Esson) shared how storytelling helped her community shift from feeling victimized by climate gentrification to identifying actionable steps to protect their homes and culture.
She also underscored that representing challenges authentically can be an important pivot point for change.
She advised that leaders should “believe community when they say they are going through something,” adding that too often, communities of color, and especially under-resourced communities of color, are pushed to the side.
Coaches can help clients reframe negative self-perceptions or situations, transforming limiting beliefs into empowering narratives.
BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH CONNECTION
The Resilient Nation Partnership Network Forum drew participants from diverse f ields, including tribal nations, academic institutions, government, non-profit and grassroots organizations. This diversity enriched the dialogue and highlighted how shared narratives can bridge divides.
The forum also demonstrated how storytelling can translate abstract concepts into relatable, actionable ideas. For instance, one session focused on resilient agriculture, centered on Stewards of the Land, about a group of Puerto Rican farmers dedicated to growing healthy food for the people and the planet. The film and the panel conversation not only educated viewers about resilient agriculture but also inspired them to explore solutions in their own regions.
Forum speaker Dexter Kishida from the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture reflected on the principles of the film and how they applied to his state. He noted that when people engage in growing their own produce, they are more apt to consume fresh and local foods and become agricultural leaders, which contributes to community resilience. Storytelling creates these powerful synergies.
TANGIBLE APPLICATIONS FOR COACHES
The success of the Sundance-FEMA- RNPN partnership provides a blueprint for coaches to harness storytelling in their work. Here are some practical applications:
- Use narratives to clarify goals: Help clients articulate their vision by framing it as a story with a clear beginning, middle, and desired end.
- Frame challenges as turning points: Shift clients’ perspectives by positioning obstacles as pivotal moments of growth or learning.
- Encourage collaborative storytelling: In team settings, use group storytelling exercises to foster cohesion and shared purpose. By incorporating these techniques, coaches can help their clients navigate personal and professional challenges with clarity and confidence.
ILLUMINATING THE PATH FORWARD
The Sundance Institute’s partnership with FEMA and RNPN exemplifies how storytelling can drive resilience at both community and individual levels. For coaches, it’s a reminder of the power of narrative to inspire transformation.
“There is something about storytelling that our ancestors knew about passing these stories along from one generation to the other, and one of these modern ways of telling these stories is through filmmaking,” said Stewards of the Land director Teitelbaum.
Through storytelling, coaches can empower their clients to become agents of change in their own lives and communities. By fostering connection, embracing diversity, and reframing challenges, we can build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future – one story at a time.
LET’S GET STARTED! You don’t need to have all the answers or be perfect. You just need to start. Take one step, no matter how small, and see where it leads. As Edmund Burke once said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” Are you ready to begin?
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