The stories we’re told about how the rich got rich, why the poor stay poor, and why people can’t “move up” place the blame on individuals instead of systems. This creates a vast network of oppression, propping up business as usual, and allowing the rich to remain rich while others suffer.
How do we build a world of economic justice for all? Better storytelling is key. And it starts with the social change sector. Many nonprofits and foundations share stories that blame poor people, allowing unjust systems created by the rich to go unquestioned. Based on research with effective economic justice organizations, panelists offer actionable strategies for shifting the narrative on poverty and wealth to one that is intersectional, builds power, and holds systems accountable.
In short, this panel explores the question: How are nonprofits and philanthropy currently reinforcing damaging narratives about poverty and wealth—and how can they do better?
The participants in this webinar are all members of the BROKE Project, a collaborative effort of the Center for Public Interest Communications, the Radical Communicators Network (RadComms), and Milli to examine the stories people tell about poverty and wealth, and to work together to build new narratives rooted in the wisdom of lived experience, narrative power, organizing for economic justice, and social science.