Building compassionate classrooms –
one story at a time
Stories break down barriers and shatter stereotypes. Narrative 4 (N4) is equipping young people to harness the power of stories to drive change in their communities.
In the PBS NewsHour segment below, Narrative 4’s Story Exchange provides students with the tools they need to become compassionate leaders and champions of community building. Please contact us to bring the power of storytelling and leadership development to your school!
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When students feel seen and connected, everything else gets better: engagement, relationships, school culture.
What we do
Help students and teachers build authentic connections
Where we work
Classrooms, student clubs,
after-school programs, and more
How we help
Story Exchanges, professional development, curriculum tools, and more
Storytelling Humanizes
What happens in our classrooms, happens for the rest of our lives. Narrative 4 is all about human connection creating a space for young people to express themselves and find common ground.
Colum McCann
Award-Winning Writer and Co-Founder of Narrative 4
Teachers: Get Involved!
Train to become a Narrative 4 Story Exchange Facilitator
All of our training packages include our research-backed Story Exchange program and Story Exchange Facilitator Training
Narrative 4 National Schools Network
Each semester, a new cohort of schools joins the network to participate in a virtual, fully-funded, semester-long program. Participants take part in a Story Exchange, complete the facilitator training, gain access to Narrative 4 classroom tools and engage in Communities of Practice.
Who is it for: Individuals or groups of 2–10 educators representing a school, district or homeschooling coalition in the U.S.
Key Opportunities: Networking, Group Learning, Community Building, Individualized Support Plans, Communities of Practice
Time Commitment: 12–16 hours over 6 months
Cost: Fully Funded
Grade: K-12
Self-Guided Story Exchange Facilitator Training
Through a virtual, self-paced, video-based training (~3.5 hours), participants will explore the N4 methodology, the power of storytelling and the core facilitation skills needed to lead a Story Exchange in their own communities.
Who is it for: Individual educators or small groups seeking to implement Narrative 4 practices in their classrooms
Key Opportunities: Quick Training, Self Paced
Time Commitment: 1-hour Story Exchange + 3.5-hour online training
Cost: $100
Custom Packages for Schools and Districts
Our school and district-level partnerships offer customized programming that integrates storytelling into your educational framework—fostering student well-being, leadership and connection.
Each partnership is tailored based on your goals and the number of schools involved. Connect with our cultivation team to explore the package that best suits your needs.
Who is it for: U.S. schools and districts investing in school culture, emotional well-being and leadership development
Time Commitment: Program dependent
Cost: Program dependent
Learn more about N4 Programs:
Story Exchange
Students deserve to know their voices, actions, and lives matter. With our Story Exchanges, they will.
The Artists Network
Storytelling changes lives. These artists prove it. Writers, musicians, and visual artists share stories about their creative lives and help students cultivate their own.
Learning Resources
Discover how to broaden perspectives, foster connections, and inspire creativity through our expert-approved methods and educational tools.
Civic Engagement
Students follow their passion and, with teacher support, focus on local and global civic engagement projects.
Build Thriving Classrooms with Evidence Based Tools
Independent studies from Yale University2 and the University of Chicago3 confirm what we’ve always believed: Story Exchanges change lives. According to these studies, students experienced:
Increased levels of cultural competency and classroom engagement
Improved communication skills and decreased intraschool conflict
Positive relationships between students and teachers
Our reach
35
Countries
532
School partners
130K
Participants
I helped launch Narrative 4 seven years ago in Chicago. It was hard to know where it would go, how fast it would grow, and how much it would be needed. But I believe then as I do now in the power of stories to shape and change the world.
Sting, N4 Music Chair
Narrative 4 is not here to change your mind. N4 tells us, ‘You can hold on to the integrity of your beliefs and understand somebody else’s at the same time.
Mary Slone, Educator, United States
There you are, laid bare, no mask, no finery,
Winnie Ahupa, National Story Exchange Participant, N4 Nigeria
just your story as simple or complicated as it may be.
What this Story Exchange taught me is that pain is universal, so is love.
Featured articles
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Article • , Apr 30, 2025An Interview with Leslie S. Leff, School Adjustment Counselor, New Hingham Regional Elementary School, MA
At the Jubilee of the World of Communication Conference, Pope Francis addressed communicators and global storytellers, urging them to share narratives that inspire hope, bridge divides, and foster unity. As part of this inaugural Jubilee event, youth organization Narrative 4 led a special storytelling workshop with 130 young professional communicators from 62 countries, showcasing the…
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Article • , Feb 05, 2025‘Tell Stories of Hope’ Narrative 4 Joins Pope Francis at the Vatican
Narrative 4 hosted a one-of-a-kind Story Exchange at the Vatican with 130 young journalists from 62 countries at the Jubilee of the World of Communication Conference.
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Video • , Mar 03, 2023Narrative 4 on NBC’s TODAY Show
We are thrilled to share TODAY’s segment on N4! TODAY co-host, Craig Melvin, visited N4 during our November 2022 Field…
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