b'T TR RO OP PE ER RN L 0 2 A U N N A 1 R 2 4 E V I T R A A T N V 1 R A I E 4 2 0 2 A R A N N U A Lso much growth with N4 and theover 90 facilitators, but we have ways educators have implement- also impacted over 750 students, ed our methodology into theireducators, and future leaders. classrooms. Weve been able toWe have seen students, bring the story exchange to 21teachers, and community leaders schools, inspiring 122 facilitatorsgrasp the N4 story exchange to interact with our Facilitatorand take flight with it. Lewis Training. It is clear to me that byand Clark College, for exam-fusing the power of theple, just completed their third exchange with the creativity andstudent-lead Conservation passion of these educators,Conversations Symposium, students will (and already do!)where students and faculty notice a differ-ence in both theirparticipated in story exchanges day-to-day in-teractions and thethat utilizedenvironmental jus-ByTaelor Lewis, overall climate within theirByTai Schroeder, tice- and climate change-themed schools. Our team is lookingprompts. We have seen extreme-Midwest Regional Manager forward to continuing to collectPacific Northwest Regional Manager ly overworked teachers take the story exchange to their schools ND, SD, MN, MI, WI, IL, IN, and IA data on N4s current impact, butWA, OR, ID, and Northern CA in ways we could never have most importantly, we hope toimagined. For instance, just the study the long-term impactother day in Boise, ID, a teacher According to a study conducteddirect impact on the educationweve had on the schoolsThe Pacific Northwest (PNW)When I first moved to Seattle,left our story exchange saying by Berkeleys Other and Belongingsystem and educators are search- engaged with our work.is known for lush landscapes,I was told (by Seattleites!) to bethat she was going to create an Institute, 5 out of the 10 mosting for new ways to connect withDespite Covid rates still con- advancing technology, toweringaware of the Seattle FreezeaEmpathy Circle at her school, a segregated cities in the Unitedstudents and open dialogue abouttinuing to increase in my region,volcanoes, and hippie communescommon saying in reference toplace where her colleagues could States are located in my region,complicated social issueshope is on the horizon. My goalsselling essential oil and foraging forthe challenge people here have income in regularly to share stories the Midwest: Detroit, Chicago,occurring in their communities.in the next year are to not onlymushrooms. While all these attrac- opening up, starting a conversa- and connect. I am most proud of Milwaukee, Cleveland, and SaintCompounded by the pandemic,continue to spread our messagetions make me a proud Washingto- tion, or speaking to strangers. the fact that we have facilitated Louis. Since the killing of Georgeeducators across my region havein new corners of my region, es- nian, there are certain aspects ofAfter witnessing the Seattlestory exchanges in both highly Floyd in Minneapolis, the Mid- asked for tools to have more con- pecially in rural areas, but to alsothe PNW that we desperately needFreeze first hand, I knew I was inurban and extremely rural areas, west has been on high alert in thenections and thoughtful conver- create a strong community of to be aware of: the staggering ratethe right placethe PNW neededsuch as in Tillamook, OR, a town news, and as Covid-19 startedsations. As one educator in my re- facilitators, especially in myof homelessness, the fires destroy- N4s work! with fewer than 50 students.to ravish our school systems ingion put it, I want my students tohometown, Chicago, IL. We haveing thousands of acres of our for- I can say with great pride, thatWith all of our foundation work March 2020 and Black Lives Mat- walk in one anothers shoes andso much to look forward to in theests, the profound division of classin one year, we have made greatin full bloom, I can imagine that ter protests swept the Midwestdevelop better relationships. Overnew year, and I am extremelyand race, the lack of acknowledge- leaps, laying the groundwork forcome spring, the N4 PNW team that same summer, I knew thatthis past year, I have madeexcited to see where this workment that most of the PNWs majorconnection through purposefulwill start to notice small drips on there was no better place or timeinroads to do just thatfromtakes us, especially as the newmetropolitan areas were erectedand meaningful conversations withthe floor as the Seattle Freeze to start Narrative 4s (N4) work.Chicago Public Schools tonormal presents itself and weon Indigenous land, to name aschools and community-basedstarts to melt in front of our The United States is diversifyingMinnesota State University,have more opportunities to in- few. As my team strategized howorganizations in Idaho, Oregon,eyes.the most in Midwestern cities. TheMoorhead, my team has taken thecrease empathy in the Midwest.to expand Narrative 4s (N4) workWashington, and Northern Cali-number of young people of colorleap in spreading N4s work in theinto this new region, with Covid-19fornia. In 11 months, our team has living in the Midwest has surgedMidwest. It has been an excitingever-present, our big question was,not only forged 17 partnerships over the past decade, as the oldertime, and it is just the beginning. where do we begin?(and counting!) and on-boarded white population has nearlyFrom the University level to stalled. This has had a the K-12 level, my team has seenWe have made great leaps, laying the groundwork for connection through The United States is diversifying the most in Midwestern cities.purposeful and meaningful conversations with schools and community-based This has had a direct impact on the education system, and educators areorganizations in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Northern California.searching for new ways to connect with students and open dialogue aboutWe have seen students, teachers, and community leaders grasp the N4 storycomplicated social issues occurring in their communities.exchange and take flight with it.12 13'