Good stories have always been the most powerful way to engage, inspire, and, over time, shape public dialogue around the values we believe in.

 

That's why Creative Counsel and The Fledgling Fund are co-presenting the 1000 Voices Archive - a curated, national collection of video stories created by filmmakers and communities across the country.

This archive is being presented at a critical time when our nation's ideas about social equity and community are widely being called into question. By 2009, the 1000 Voices Archive will contain the selected stories of 1000 Americans as they evoke the values they cherish most. We start with our first stories in winter 2008.

Stories + Tools = Change

Every voice creates big change. And so the 1000 Voices Archive is designed to tap into the power of stories to encourage community conversations through a wide range of advocacy tools. In this way, each of our storyteller videos becomes a "public dialogue engine."

Factsheets and other resources associated with each video can help promote informed dialogue at school, at faith gatherings, and policy meetings. And, if a viewer prefers to take private action, our tools allow them to write directly to their elected officials and media.

The stories of the 1000 Voices Archive will bring a human face to often difficult-to-understand policies. They bring humanity back to issues such as immigration, discrimination, and access to healthcare. We're doing this because communities are yearning for serious conversations and information about what we can be together, as a diverse nation, if given the opportunity.

A Bridge Builder.

The 1000 Voices Archive also helps us understand how we are all connected. Through our interactive map, search engine and browsing filters, and powerful web tools that emphasize core values and shared themes across diverse communities, the archive makes visible an emerging, cross-issue, cross-cultural public dialogue of a nation. Many of the Archive's most inspiring stories come from those who advance values in their communities, showing them speaking up for better policies. The stories of women, immigrants, and people of color (ie, voices that are so often marginalized) are also well represented in this new video story-portrait of America. Several of the stories are in different languages. And many story themes are delivered by unexpected messengers that defy our expectations and stereotypes.

And so the 1000 Voices Archive is a conversation-building tool for people who believe in the values of community, voice, and equity. We hope that this archive encourages you to build bridges and think about your life, your family’s lives, and your communities through the lens of values – such as connected communities, strength in diversity, and the dignity and rights of every human being.

Moving on Values!

But the 1000 Voices Archive does so much more. Our 1000 Voices team makes sure that videos are not only viewed by individual web surfers, but that they can also be shown effectively in trainings, townhalls, conferences, and large gatherings where neighbors, colleagues, and decisionmakers can view them together, using the stories as discussion catalysts to talk about local issues in their communities. Our team will actively share the most popular stories through e-mail, phone technology, and on social networking sites, and elevate our 1000 Voices Archive storytellers as local heroes. And we will continue to find factsheets, and update our powerful letter writing and information tools, facilitation guides, and web links that accompany each video. In coming years, we will give viewers an increasing range of ways to deepen their civic involvement in the issues depicted by the storyteller.

And our circles keep growing.

As more and more viewers come to the 1000 Voices Archive, we are launching exciting partnerships and customized programs with media hubs, national advocacy networks, award winning filmmakers, and a range of supporters who understand the transformative potential of a story well told. We invite you to stay connected to the 1000 Voices Archive through our e-newsletter by clicking here.