Solutions Insights Lab

"Creating a culture of environmental heroism inspired by indigeneity." A conversation between Paul Redman, Executive Director and Founder of If Not Us Then Who, and Alec Saelens, Impact Manager at the Solutions Journalism Network. Discover in this interview how INUTW amplifies Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to lead in environmental initiatives and storytelling. Read the full interview - https://lnkd.in/e-TqMPGT Solutions Insights Lab #WhatsWorkingSolutions #ClimateAction #IndigenousLeadership #EnvironmentalJustice #IfNotUsThenWho

In collaboration with TechSoup Canada, join Solutions Insights Lab's Manager, Ashley Hopkinson for "Storytelling for Impact: Harnessing the Solutions-Focused Lens for Better Nonprofit Outreach" 🗓 Date: Thu, Jul 25, 2024 🕛 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT Come learn the four pillars of solutions storytelling— response, evidence, insight, and limitations — to help you build those fresh and compelling narratives that lead to more equitable and impactful content. You’ll leave with communication skills that help people more holistically understand the world as it is while glimpsing the world they want. You’ll also learn about the power of the pillars to unlock new insights through the Solutions Insights Lab, an initiative that combines the power of qualitative research and storytelling. 

"I have always been interested in what people have to give, and on what magic they have brought to their sector or region or family. I didn’t choose this angle because the problems themselves weren’t important to document. I did it because the narrative for most underserved communities has always been about the problem, and I believe that telling stories about solutions is the most equity-forward way of reshaping the world." In the final installment of our collaborative posts with TechSoup Canada, our Chief Innovation Office, Ambika Samarthya, connects her background in documentary film-making with our hope that the Lab's work contributes to narrative shifts that focus on solutions, not problems.

What does social science research and solutions storytelling have to do with one another? A lot, actually. In our latest collaborative post with TechSoup Canada, learn how our Research Manager, Jenn Rosen -- a former Sociology professor -- has systematized the solutions framework into a research methodology that has enabled us to analyze our interviews for deeper meanings, complex narratives, and contextual nuances.

#InsightsFromTheLab. In our interview with Sarah Jaynes of #HeartlandFund, she offers lessons on communications by emphasizing that who your messengers are can be just as important -- if not more so -- than the message itself. 💡 Moreover, she shares that  “you have to learn how to talk from a values perspective and listen to what people are saying is impacting them and responding directly to that and tying that to the issue that you want to talk about. All of the folks that are working in our network are just expert bridge-builders, and they're able to take really bold, strong positions on important issues, but talk about them in ways that feel really common sense to everyone, whether they're talking about abortion or immigration or education or gay rights. I think that we would be well-served in the entire movement for change to be actually communicating like that.” 💬 What other strategies have you found effective in communicating broad social issues into relatable, common-sense language? 💬 How do you tailor your messaging to different audiences? Tag individuals & organizations that utilize bridge-builders well to reach diverse communities. We'd love to hear their thoughts!

Need a boost of inspiration and optimism? Read about the Solutions Story Tracker in our latest collaboration post with TechSoup Canada. The Story Tracker supercharges many of the SIL websites with stories from around the world on what's working today in social change. Unlike “feel good stories,” “hero stories,” or “puffery,” these published pieces represent what SJN calls “hope with teeth” – credible reporting on what’s working and what others can learn from both the success and failure of potential pathways forward.

Fresh from an exhilarating two-days at the Wellbeing Economy Forum in Iceland, the excitement from the experience is still palpable! It was truly inspiring to encounter so many government officials and policymakers passionately dedicated to embedding wellbeing into the heart of governance. We loved how Ilona Kickbusch, co-chair of the Council of the World Health Summit, reframed health to be "created where people live, love, work, and play" as well as the commitment of those working at all levels of government to integrate pillars of healthy cities -- planetary health, social health, economic health, and individual health -- even when the indicators prove difficult to show in one election cycle. Being there left us energized to continue our interviews and research with "Reimagining Society: Insights for the Future of Wellbeing" (futureofwellbeing.com) and reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that the wisdom and perspectives of wellbeing practitioners are reflected in broader discussions seeking to create alignment in policies and actions. It's crucial to bridge a wide range of practices and perspectives within this space, and we are persuaded that alliances for greater learning and collaboration are not only possible, but more probable as those in the movement learn more about one another’s successes and insights. A special acknowledgement to our remarkable Wellbeing Economy Alliance - WEAll collaborators, Michael Weatherhead and Katherine Trebeck. It was a pleasure to meet and get to spend time with you!

As part of our presence at Wellbeing Economy Forum 2024 in Iceland, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our newest initiative, “Reimagining Society: Insights for the Future of Wellbeing,” a research project in collaboration with Wellbeing Economy Alliance - WEAll supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. It aims to surface insights about the efforts shaping a world where both people and the planet can thrive and forge meaningful futures. What does it take to create such a world? To answer this, we are interviewing 100 leaders throughout the year across various domains to understand their perspectives on wellbeing. We’re asking them: What’s the secret? What have you done that worked? Why did it work? And what didn’t? They’ve shared their practical wisdom about how to make the world better, and also their tenacious hope that others will join them in creating a better future for all of us. These stories serve as a grounding reminder that the futures we imagine are not far-off fantasies, but rather, tangible realities taking root in the present moment. These insightful conversations will be transcribed and made available on a new website for you to read. We invite you to visit futureofwellbeing.com regularly to stay updated on the insights and discoveries that emerge.

#InsightsFromTheLab 💡 “There are clearly benefits that organizations can see both in and out of the coalition. It’s been remarkable to be able to broker conversations, advance projects, and get into the activities so quickly. There’s clearly a demand for an environment in which one can catalyze collective action, but the secret sauce of the coalition is that it opens up new spaces and new opportunities through peer-to-peer learning and collective action. We can move from conversation to action much more quickly than individual organizations could.” Jonathan Faull of CASH Coalition speaks to the insight that networks can help expedite the pace and scale of social change. We’ve learned from dozens of changemakers that by working in collaboration, social innovators are better able to leverage one another’s strengths & expertise. 💬 What strategies have you found effective in fostering interorganizational collaboration? 💬 What are some challenges associated with working in coalition, and how have you overcome them? Tag individuals & organizations you know that are doing great work in coalition building. We’d love to hear their thoughts!

Questions can be a vehicle to new horizons, deeper connection, and more compelling storytelling. On this week's "Storytelling for Impact" with TechSoup Canada, we share some of the sample questions we asked as part of our research project, "What's Working" (whatsworkingsolutions.org/) Consider reflecting on them with your team. What insights came up about your organization?