Leadership
Can the stories we tell really change the world?
Jacqueline Novogratz speaks with two UK Fellows on how they are using stories to reimagine a world based on dignity.
April 10. 2023
Duro, Laura and Jacqueline.
Stories have always been a powerful way to communicate. It’s how humans are able to connect and share experiences. The art of using stories as a tool for change is a skill that can have a particularly important effect across communities. If used intentionally, the power of storytelling can encourage inclusion, inspire change and mobilise action.
Jacqueline Novogratz shares that "the job of a moral leader - which is the job of all of us - is to learn to tell the stories that matter, stories that unite and inspire, reinforcing our individual and collective potential, and paint a picture of the future that we can all paint and inhabit together.”
This power of storytelling can lead to endless opportunities and positive change across the globe, highlighted by this fishing town in Mexico where fishermen changed the narrative to prioritise environmental restoration. Or by Acumen investee Kheyti, who listened to the challenges of smallholder farmers to empower and move them from poverty to profitability in India.
I wanted to achieve more but I didn’t feel like I had the opportunity to use what I had.
Duro Oye
Founder & CEO of 2020 Change
To explore the power of storytelling, Jacqueline sat down with UK Fellows Duro Oye and Laura Nyahuye at The Africa House, London and invited them to share their story. We explore the key takeaways of the stories that got them where they are today.
Sharing his story to Jacqueline and an audience in London, Duro highlighted his aspirations in the earlier chapters of his life.
“I sit in front of you as a young, Black man with a very positive view on life. However, it’s important to share that this wasn't always the case. I grew up on the worst council estate in the UK and I wasn’t inspired by anything I saw around me. I wanted to achieve more but I didn’t feel like I had the opportunity to use what I had,” Duro shared.
“It wasn't until I matured that I realised if I had been placed in an environment where I was inspired by people I saw around me, who nurtured my skills, I would have lived a very different life.”
As Duro shared his story, we were transported to his childhood where we started to understand where he came from, how his world is framed, and how that shapes his actions and work. His background and experiences led him to become the Founder and CEO of 2020 Change, a youth empowerment organization that provides training and support to equip young Black people with the tools they need to flourish in their chosen profession and be role models for future generations.
“There was a lot of inner work that needed to happen before I could start my journey of social change. My journey of ‘self’ is one that is constantly evolving. I have to always pinch myself and say ‘this is my life’. Not only am I living proof that you can turn things around but I will also continue going back to where I grew up to show others that they can turn things around.”
Continuing the conversation, Jacqueline invited Laura to share a narrative that invited and inspired the audience to join her work. This story allowed a sense of community, showing others how they can help in the journey towards creating change.
The power of art is not just for myself but for others. Art is a tool for young people from migrant backgrounds to become who they want to be.
Laura Nyahuye
Founder & Creative Director at MAOKWO
As the Founder of Maokwo, Laura’s mission is to address the issues of representation within the arts sector for minority artists, women, young people and migrant communities. Whilst sharing her story, Laura recalls meeting a woman who inspired the future of her work and the ethos it built on.
“A few years back, I met a Somali woman from a community group. She studied accounting and volunteered regularly with young women. However, wherever she was in the UK, she always struggled to find work and faced constant discrimination,” Laura explained.
“Even her children struggled with the idea of going to university. They thought because they are Somali, they’ll face the same discrimination. That really hit me in terms of how the system is affecting the next generation.”
“If you look a certain way, if you're wearing a hijab and if you've got a certain accent, you’ll be discriminated against - and this continues to impact younger generations. This was a turning point for me and Maokwo was born out of that space.”
“The power of art is not just for myself but for others. Art is a tool for young people from migrant backgrounds to become who they want to be.”
Laura’s story created a shared identity that demonstrated how others can be involved in her work’s narrative. Her story brought together specific people and a moment that not only shaped a community, but builds a story that inspires others to join in on the work.
To end the evening, Duro called upon those in the room to take action in building change in the UK.
“We all have the ability to do something different. All it takes is to get someone to think about what you can do differently. I hope this conversation has encouraged people to think about what they can do differently to help the next generation.”
Duro and Laura are inspiring examples of how the stories we choose to tell have the power to shape our lives and our world. Their stories are a reminder that we have a choice in the stories we choose to tell. And the stories we choose to tell have the power to shape our lives and our world.
Laura closed with a reflection about the meaning of the Shona word, Maokwo (Laura’s mother’s tongue, pronounced… MA-O-K-WO). “Maokwo is a meaning for ‘hands’. As humans, we refer a lot to our hands with phrases such as; ‘It’s in your hands’ or ‘It’s in God’s hands'. There’s a belief in Zimbabwe that a child is born with clenched fists because they are holding onto their gifts. As they grow, they slowly let go, sharing their gifts and talent with the world. That is our work, to support our children to share their gifts with the world.”
Are you looking to enhance the power of your authentic voice to connect across differences and create meaningful change? Learn how to share your personal story in a way that better connects with your audience and inspires change. Register for the Acumen Academy free online Storytelling for Change course now.
