Free Virtual Program Offered to Nonprofit Organizations and Educators
The John R. Oishei Foundation will host “Asset Framing with Trabian Shorters,” a presentation on a cognitive framework that defines people by their aspirations rather than their challenges to avoid stigmatizing and to increase engagement, support, and impact across race, gender, and economic classes. The free virtual presentation will be held on October 13 at 3 pm and is open to the nonprofit community and select educators. Register here
Rooted in cognitive science, Asset-Framing has been recognized as a major innovation in the field of social impact and is increasingly employed to increase racial equity and avoid stigmatization. Trabian Shorters, CEO of the BMe Community, a network of innovators, leaders, and champions who invest in aspiring communities will lead the training. He is also a New York Times best-selling author, social entrepreneur, and a leading authority on Asset-Framing.
In November, attendees to the Asset-Framing Keynote event will have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on workshop with Shorters and the BMe Community to learn specific techniques that can be employed within their organizations. Registration to the Keynote can be found here and those attending will then be invited to the subsequent small group workshops to further their knowledge and to begin to deploy asset-framing techniques in communications for their organizations. Registration to the workshops is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Shorters will discuss the psychological and cultural power of narrative; why deficit-framing sabotages equity; and how to find smarter solutions. The subsequent workshops will delve deeper into how to apply asset-framing in communications strategies.
The events are designed to build capacity within the nonprofit community and are part of the Foundation’s “beyond grantmaking” focus. They are also a result of the Foundation’s commitment to racial equity and the desire to share national expertise at the local level to provide more education and tools for nonprofits regarding equity issues.
The series is designed to help nonprofits more effectively communicate about those whom they serve in a way that draws people into their positive stories rather than leading with the challenges or barriers they face. The series builds on the highly successful “StoryGrowing WNY” program that focuses on building storytelling skills in the nonprofit community and will provide additional tools for effective communications with an equity focus.