Narrative Strategies for Fighting Authoritarianism
We gathered for a community conversation exploring how communicators can respond to this moment with narrative strategies that strengthen people’s sense of agency, connection, and collective power.
Author Archive for: Sabine Schoenbach
Entries by Sabine Schoenbach
The People Are Supposed to Be in Charge: A Meta-Narrative for this Moment
This short two-pager explores how a simple and powerful meta-narrative puts words to what people already feel, and illustrates how we can use it to highlight the agency we all have in this moment.
From Independence to Interdependence: Building the Conditions for Collective Agency in the Next 250 Years
Drawing on interviews across democracy, philanthropy, organizing, and civic life, this project explores a central question: What conditions make meaningful collaboration, democratic participation, and collective agency possible?
In the Hands of the People: Resource Roundup
Inspiration, guidance, and practical support to craft authentic, inclusive American stories and use the US@250 moment to help move our nation closer to its promise.
Reclaiming Control Together: Building Narrative Power Against Authoritarian Populism
A new framing science brief from Topos Partnership looks at how powerlessness, disconnection, and distrust can fuel authoritarian appeals — and, crucially, how advocates can respond with narratives that foster agency, solidarity, and engagement.
A New Toolkit for Putting Families at the Heart of Economic Narrative
On April 28th, we gathered for the launch of the new narrative toolkit: Narrative Power for Kids and Families: Rewriting the Story of the Economy.
In the Hands of the People: Social Tools
Our new social media toolkit offers ready-to-use posts, visuals, and messaging guidance to help communicators tell a more honest, inclusive, people-powered American story as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
In the Hands of the People: A Workshop for Communicators
As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, we gathered communicators, advocates, organizers, and creative partners to explore how we can tell a more honest, inclusive, and resonant American story.
In the Hands of the People: A One-Pager
Our new one-pager is your quick-start guide to the powerful narrative framework that can help us move our nation closer to its promises.
Community Conversation: Communicating Truth Through the Noise (December 2025)
On December 11th, we convened a timely conversation on how to communicate truth in an era of mistrust and misinformation. Topos Partnership shared key insights from the new framing science brief, Communicating Truth Through the Noise, followed by climate strategist Carina Barnett-Loro, who grounded these ideas in the real-world challenges of climate justice work. Read […]
Think Big Brief: Communicating Truth Through the Noise
What can the research tell us about how people come to accept new information as true? And what strategies can help communicators break through when truth itself is being challenged?
In the Hands of the People: A Narrative Guide
Explore our free US@250 Narrative Guide, created with Topos Partnership, for the full narrative framework and the research behind it.
Think Big Brief: Beyond Blame – Villains, Villainy & Heroic Solutions
What happens when we focus on the villain without fully reckoning with their villanous actions (villainy)? Think Big teamed up with the Topos Partnership to explore what social science reveals about the power of villains in advocacy storytelling — and what we miss when we fail to include their harmful actions.
Met Group: Housing as Well-Being
Written by guest author Jennifer Messenger from the Metropolitan Group, this article explores how framing economic conversations through the lens of well-being can drive meaningful impact.
Think Big Brief: Breaking the Doom Loop
How do we present injustices and wrongs in a way that engages people and allows audiences to see that a just, equitable, and joyful future is possible? Check out our framing science brief on helping our audiences break out of the doom loop.
Belonging in and to America: A Short Video Series
Over the last year, we traveled from coast to coast, from city to small town, to talk with people about American identity and take an honest look at the stories we tell about ourselves, who we are, and what we value.
This short video series features some of these voices and is based on the Topos/Bridge Project jointly-released report: Belonging in and To America.
Think Big Community Coffee Chat: Join us on May 16th!
Exploring the Power and Potential of Well-Being Narratives May 16, 2024 10-11am PST I 1-2pm EST Register Today What if shared narratives about progress and what matters most were about “well-being of all people” instead of “economic growth and consumption?” How would that shape our attitudes and actions — from the individual to community to […]
Opportunity Agenda: Messaging on the Supreme Court & The Judiciary
This year, it looks like many of us will need to communicate about the role of the Supreme Court. How can we do that in ways that build to a more constructive long-term understanding of the what the role of the court SHOULD be….the Opportunity Agenda has a helpful guide. Access the Messaging Memo
Advancing a Well-Being Narrative
Developed by the Metropolitan Group and RAND, this narrative guide offers some early thinking on a Wellbeing Narrative in the U.S. – a narrative shift from “economic growth at all costs” to “well-being for all people.” The report reviews and examines the implications for well-being approaches gaining traction globally, and offers initial insights and recommendations […]
Think Big Conversation: Shifting the Story of “Hard Work”
On February 27th, the Narrative Learning Community met to explore the fraught concept of hard work in the American narrative and to discuss promising paths forward. We shared lessons learned from our deep research across the South and Southern Midwest through the Topos/EARN-led Southern Mindshift Project and heard from partner advocates and organizers about their on-the-ground experiences. Check out […]