Starting the year on the brightest note possible, Narrative 4 hosted a unique Program at the Vatican with 130 young journalists from 62 countries at the World of Communication Conference. The event was part of the Jubilee: a special year for Catholics worldwide.
“Narrative 4 was invited to the Vatican to teach young journalists and communicators how to use storytelling to connect across divides, generate understanding, and inspire hope.“
Lee Keylock, Senior Director of Programmes & Special Initiatives at Narrative 4.
Meeting Pope Francis
One of the highlights of this event was hearing from Pope Francis who addressed communicators, urging them to share narratives that inspire hope, bridge divides, and foster unity. The event brought together communicators, journalists, and storytellers, emphasising the power of storytelling in countering division and spreading hope.
130 People from 62 Countries: 130 Stories of Hope
‘A Pilgrimage of Repair’
Author Colum McCann also delivered a keynote speech at the conference to 10,000 delegates where he described storytelling as a “pilgrimage of repair”—a way to build understanding, mend broken relationships, and promote peace.
“Storytelling is a call to action. Story listening is a form of prayer.”
‘Hope is not passive; it’s active’
Maria Ressa, a Filipino journalist and Nobel Prize Laureate also delivered a keynote address at the event, she warned about the dangers of technology-driven disinformation, which undermines trust and democracy.
“Hope is not passive; it’s active, relentless, and strategic”
‘The little girl on the threshold’
“I felt like a little girl welcomed into a home that could also be hers…”
Iranian-born writer Lila Azam Zanganeh was part of the Narrative 4 Facilitator Team at the Vatican.
Marquette + N4: A Partnership in Transcending Institutional Barriers
Blog• December 17, 2024
At Marquette University, two educators are leading the charge in bringing Narrative 4 practices to a groundbreaking program designed to include incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students in philosophy and ethics coursework.
How Can We? Project is Shaping Maine’s Future Leaders
Blog• December 16, 2024
The Can We? Project continues to grow and thrive across Maine, creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage in civil dialogue, foster compassion, and inspire change within their communities. The program works directly with cohorts of students and teachers from partner schools, offering them the tools to navigate political and social differences through dialogue. Each year, as interest and capacity allow, the program expands to include new schools, with the hope that the skills learned will ripple outward.
Leadership Through Story: How High School in the Community is Transforming with Narrative 4
Blog• December 16, 2024
High School in the Community (HSIC), a public school with a longstanding relationship with Narrative 4, continues to make strides in integrating storytelling and compassion into its culture. Under the leadership of Principal Carrie Strand, the school has hosted numerous impactful events, from global exchanges with a school in Ireland to collaborations between students and police officers. For HSIC, the power of storytelling and connection isn’t new, but each year, the school finds new ways to dive deeper into this transformative work.