This month: Who We Become premieres on Netflix, plus how TOA fellows are changing narratives
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Soha Ellaithy: Our Impact is in Community
If you won the lottery, how would you spend it? It’s a question many development professionals consider privately. For me, I’ve always wanted to invest in using culture to reshape what society views as “common sense."
I grew up in the Middle East, acutely aware of issues of injustice and always thinking of how to achieve equality. While the concept of narrative wasn’t always explicitly defined in my vision, as I advanced in my career, I became strongly convinced that changing societal narratives is key in expanding human rights.
That’s why I felt very fortunate to
join The Opportunity Agenda<[link removed]> as the Vice President of Advancement. As a new member of the organization, I was eager to understand the real-world impact of TOA's efforts. The
value of our research, messaging guidance, and trainings<[link removed]> were clear. But how did it all come together to create tangible change?
I did not have to wait long for the answer.
Seeing the work first-hand—from attending
Creative Change<[link removed]> to meeting our
Narrative Innovators Lab fellows<[link removed]>—brought home for me that narrative change is not just about providing tools, but more importantly about leveraging the power of convening. We are
cultivating generational leaders<[link removed]> from all corners of the social justice movement who gain fresh strategies and join forces to spark innovative solutions.
The great thing about narrative change is that you don’t have to win the lottery. Yes, large-scale cultural change will require significant investment, but leaders like Qainat and Priscilla give me hope that we can make change happen now.
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Fellow Spotlight: Qainat Khan
Our Communications Institute brings together social justice leaders to supercharge their narrative strategies and is widely respected as a premiere training program. Watch 2023 fellow
Qainat Khan’s moving reflection<[link removed]> on how the Solitary Gardens project inspired her to update the art for the ACLU’s campaign to end capital punishment. Her approach shows how infusing cultural strategy into advocacy communications can help
teach us about life, death, and justice<[link removed]>.
Watch Now<[link removed]>
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Fellow Spotlight: Priscilla Olivarez
In Texas,
2023 fellow Priscilla Olivarez works<[link removed]> with her community to demand everyone in the state be treated with dignity and respect. From Congress to border communities, their campaign to end Operation Lone Star (OLS) reveals the program for what it is: a multibillion-dollar scheme that threatens the safety of Texans and prevents migrants from accessing their right to seek asylum. Learn more about her work to
reframe the conversation about OLS<[link removed]>.
Watch Now<[link removed]>
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Culture Corner: Staff Recommendations
To wrap up our Culture Corner recommendations for 2023, we wanted to curate a mix of music and films to celebrate the power of representation, find strength, and nurture your soul. Our first recommendation needs your support today, so let's get to it:
WHO WE BECOME (2023) – Directed by PJ Raval, this
feature documentary<[link removed]> follows three young, Filipina-American women in Texas as they navigate the difficult time and intergenerational conversations about Asian-Black solidarity, rising anti-Asian hate crimes, and civic engagement during the pandemic.
For our TOA colleagues Rachel Reyes and Sunee Kate Quirante, it’s a big deal to see the stories of Fil-Ams on Netflix, and we need everyone’s help today, December 1st, to make big ratings splash when it releases.
Hear from star Monica Silverio how you can help<[link removed]> and
watch the trailer<[link removed]>. For conversations with your community and family, you can also lean on our
tips for difficult holiday conversations<[link removed]> and
talking about anti-Asian racism.<[link removed]>
LIFT LIKE A GIRL (2020) - Directed by independent Egyptian filmmaker Mayye Zayed,
this documentary chronicles<[link removed]> the journey of teenage athlete Zebiba as she rises from a scrappy neighborhood in Alexandria to becoming a national weightlifting champion.
Hailing from Cairo, Soha Ellaithy loved how the film succeeds in highlighting evolving gender perceptions in Egypt and the sheer grit, determination, and perseverance of young women from working-class families. In a society where all odds are stacked against them, it offers a different perspective on what it means to be a woman. Also
streaming on Netflix<[link removed]>, you can
watch the trailer on YouTube<[link removed]>.
Water Made Us (2023) - Inspired by how water taught her to let go,
Jamila Woods’ latest album<[link removed]> features songs like “Tiny Garden” and “Practice” that speak to the importance of tending to yourself and being present in the moment with others, without feeling like everything needs to be “right” (
an homage to Allen Iverson<[link removed]>).
Although it dropped in mid-October, it’s been playing on repeat in Kate Starks’ home and caused her to
revisit Woods’ poetry<[link removed]>. Through her music and poetry, Woods tells stories about her life and the Black experience in ways that empower others to find a sense of belonging and understanding.
Watch the music video for “Tiny Garden”<[link removed]> on YouTube and
pre-order her album on CD, vinyl, or tape<[link removed]>. She’ll also be
touring in early 2024<[link removed]>.
Image credits: background images by Somi Benson-Jaja, Annie Del Hierro, Priscilla Olivarez, film artwork by Who We Become
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