WE ARE ALL STORYTELLERS: Storytelling & Artistic Activism

The stories you use to communicate your campaign are incredibly important. You each have stories inside you waiting to come out Some of you may know this, and others of you may never have realized you have this ability. All you need is a little encouragement, some support and the opportunity It might be your own personal story that reveals who you are, or it might be the stories of those whose voices cannot be heard that is waiting to be expressed

Just remember, you are part of a heritage of storytellers Humans have used stories throughout our history on this earth. Cave paintings, for example, dating over 30,000 years old around the world used images and symbols to tell stories that resonate still with us today. We continue to listen to the songs, the poems, and the plays of our ancestors, just some of the vehicles stories use to reach us

It is in our blood to tell and listen to stories Our actions shape the stories of our daily lives, and those stories feed into the much larger global story. Each of you has a story to tell, it might seem ordinary but even the most ordinary details weave together to form the rich tapestries of our lives.

A story can be oral, written, or artistic, and it may go beyond words... it can be anything else you decide it to be! Stories are the keepers of our reality; they shape our feelings, our relationships, our thoughts, and even our brains. For many stories are alive; ever-changing they breathe life into our past, present, and future We can aspire to be part of a greater story, a movement of storytellers who seek to connect, to change, and to heal

The lessons, activities, and suggested resources presented in this curriculum show how people worldwide have used stories to bring about positive change through activism Let them guide you! Let them inspire you!

Dear Educator,

Whether you are just joining us, or have taught Childhood Unbound all the way throughthank you You have taken a step in educating the next generation of change-makers

In building this curriculum, it was always our goal to equip teachers with resources from a wide range of sources and voices that would help you empower students to become ambassadors of their own learning

Now is the time to help the students take action with what they’ve learned To close out Childhood Unbound, we encourage you to give your students the space to be the activists they are Take on a campaign as a class, it could be in support of a cause they learned about in a previous unit of this curriculum, an issue in the news they feel passionate about, or something they want to take on in their school or community Use what you have learned, referring back to the activities and suggested resources in units 1 through 7, as well as the action steps at the end of the curriculum, to help you guide your class in creating a successful campaign

Share your stories with us! mediavoicesforchildren@gmail com or on instagram @mediavoicesforchildren

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has ”

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