Course 2 of 3 for those taking the Story as Leadership Strategy series bundle. Courses may also be taken independently.
Even when a change strategy is clear, momentum depends on whether people see themselves in the work. Change becomes difficult to sustain when the change centers only on plans and outcomes, rather than lived experience, shared meaning, and community identity.
In this course, participants focus on how change lives in people—starting with the leader and expanding to the community. Through structured reflection and narrative development, participants explore their own experiences, surface community narratives, and examine how those stories shape understanding, belonging, and action for change. Story is used as a leadership practice to connect personal meaning, collective identity, and strategic direction.
By the end of the course, participants craft a coherent, shareable narrative that explains the change they are leading, why it matters, and how their community belongs in it.
This course is for educators responsible for guiding strategic change who want to strengthen how they communicate purpose, build community connection, and foster shared ownership of the work.
What will you walk away with?
The asset you will develop through this course is a Community Centered Change Narrative which will include:
A springboard moment that invites others into the change
Reflections on leadership meaning shaped by lived experience
Insights drawn from community narratives, including dominant and missing stories
A coherent narrative that explains the change, why it matters, and how the community belongs in it
The skills you will develop in this course include the ability to
Use storytelling to integrate self, community, and strategic direction in change efforts
Frame change in ways that foster belonging and shared purpose
Craft personal narratives that resonate with diverse audiences
Build collective identity through community narratives
Participants will receive
Tools for identifying springboard moments and community narratives
Structured activities for sense-making and meaning-making, including AI-supported reflection
A workbook of activities that culminate in a change narrative grounded in community
Access to course materials and resources
Introduction & Overview of Course 1
Topic 1: Experience as Meaning-Making
Topic 2: Building Collective Identity through Community Narratives
Topic 3: The Springboard Story
Topic 4: Crafting the Story of Change
An additional optional topic is provided for learners who have not taken Course 1: Story as Change Strategy or for learners who wish to develop a new change agenda before crafting their community-based personal narrative.
Estimated time to completion is 5 hours
3-months
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a digital certificate and badge. This digital certificate links to a webpage outlining the learning outcomes covered in the workshop. You can display your certificates on LinkedIn or your CV. You can also share it directly with your school or prospective employers.
Tara Waudby, PhD, VP of Evolution Academy by Middle States
Course 2 of 3 for those taking the Story as Leadership Strategy series bundle. Courses may also be taken independently.
Even when a change strategy is clear, momentum depends on whether people see themselves in the work. Change becomes difficult to sustain when the change centers only on plans and outcomes, rather than lived experience, shared meaning, and community identity.
In this course, participants focus on how change lives in people—starting with the leader and expanding to the community. Through structured reflection and narrative development, participants explore their own experiences, surface community narratives, and examine how those stories shape understanding, belonging, and action for change. Story is used as a leadership practice to connect personal meaning, collective identity, and strategic direction.
By the end of the course, participants craft a coherent, shareable narrative that explains the change they are leading, why it matters, and how their community belongs in it.
This course is for educators responsible for guiding strategic change who want to strengthen how they communicate purpose, build community connection, and foster shared ownership of the work.
What will you walk away with?
The asset you will develop through this course is a Community Centered Change Narrative which will include:
A springboard moment that invites others into the change
Reflections on leadership meaning shaped by lived experience
Insights drawn from community narratives, including dominant and missing stories
A coherent narrative that explains the change, why it matters, and how the community belongs in it
The skills you will develop in this course include the ability to
Use storytelling to integrate self, community, and strategic direction in change efforts
Frame change in ways that foster belonging and shared purpose
Craft personal narratives that resonate with diverse audiences
Build collective identity through community narratives
Participants will receive
Tools for identifying springboard moments and community narratives
Structured activities for sense-making and meaning-making, including AI-supported reflection
A workbook of activities that culminate in a change narrative grounded in community
Access to course materials and resources
Introduction & Overview of Course 1
Topic 1: Experience as Meaning-Making
Topic 2: Building Collective Identity through Community Narratives
Topic 3: The Springboard Story
Topic 4: Crafting the Story of Change
An additional optional topic is provided for learners who have not taken Course 1: Story as Change Strategy or for learners who wish to develop a new change agenda before crafting their community-based personal narrative.
Estimated time to completion is 5 hours
3-months
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a digital certificate and badge. This digital certificate links to a webpage outlining the learning outcomes covered in the workshop. You can display your certificates on LinkedIn or your CV. You can also share it directly with your school or prospective employers.
Tara Waudby, PhD, VP of Evolution Academy by Middle States
