The Mission
To spark positive momentum through the power of storytelling.
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Stories have been used for thousands of years to share ideas, prompt change, and bridge divides. Stories for Action provides a space to share the stories that do just that, and in doing so, works to inspire and accelerate the systemic shifts necessary for a thriving planet and strong communities. We document and curate stories that unite divided groups, amplify the voices of communities at the ground level, create clear calls to action, and strengthen the relationships between people with varied perspectives, and between people and their environments.
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We can help you bring your story to the public eye with our production services or consulting. Spark important dialogue or create connection in your community or organization with a customized Story Workshop.
Take a listen to our podcast series. Submit your own story for us to share on our social media and create a call to action for others.
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How We Work
Does your organization or business have a program that you want to share with the world? Allow us to tell your story through video or photography.
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We offer cinematography,
aerial drone, photography, & editing services...to produce a full product or for a "one off" shoot.
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Check out our podcast series and Life in the Land project currently in production. We have also produced short films in partnership with organizations in Montana & beyond. Our production is lead by Lara Tomov, who had 15 years of experience in film & television prior to founding Stories for Action.
Produce Original Content
WORKSHOPS: Learn to effectively share stories that create a call to action through entry level video, photo, or audio production.
OR let's facilitate a gathering to guide your community or organization to better articulate their story verbally. This is key for internal mission focus and for approaching potential funders of your work. Workshops can be held in schools, communities, and workplaces. We will partner with local community members to customize this workshop for your group.
Download info sheet HERE.
CONSULTING: We can give you guidance on how to shape the story of your own work, so you are better equipped to approach a media professional OR if you want technical & creative tips on how to DIY within your own organization.
Workshops & consulting can be done virtually or in person, ranging from one hour to multi-day.
Discounts are offered for non-profit organizations.
GIVE US A SHOUT!
Workshops &
Consulting
On SFA's social media handles, we share stories of varied mediums, from other sources, that build inspiration and create impact. By sharing these stories across social & professional circles, we can accelerate the systemic shifts necessary for thriving communities and their environments.
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We especially appreciate content that is produced by members of the featured community.
Curate Content
Work by Stories for Action is completed by Director Lara Tomov and partnering contractors.
View Lara's Camera Portfolio here.
The Motivation
For thousands of years, there are examples of humans interacting with their place and meeting their needs in a way that maintains and benefits the health of their communities and the environments they are a part of. We believe this approach is possible in all systems of our societies; public health, ecological, economic, food, community well-being, energy. But as long as stewarding our environment and standing up for healthy communities is a divisive issue, this approach will not occur on a global scale. By sharing our stories, we can find our common ground and see the success in uniting our efforts. We can humanize our challenges and move past prejudice and polarization. We can create a tangible connection to the existential crisis of environmental degradation, and prove that it is not a distant threat. The environment includes us, our actions, our air, drinking water, food, communities, our family's safety, our economies, our survival.
Communities & businesses around the world are seeing the clear connection between a healthy environment & healthy societies. It's time to shift the mainstream narrative; the push for a thriving environment is also a push for public health, resilient economies, social justice, jobs...not protecting one at the cost of the other. We want to elevate stories that allow that narrative to rise above.
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Consistent themes of the work we produce or curate include:
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Community-guided approaches
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Holistic or collaborative approaches
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Showing the nuance in social and environmental concepts, to urge us to not build our image of the world based on generalizations or divisive rhetoric.
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The health of human communities is directly connected to that of the environment we're a part of
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Honoring our differences and recognizing our collective strength
Our society is creating increasing avenues for isolation. We have many challenges, and many more growing on the horizon. When our networks and interconnections are strong, we can be more resilient to these pressures. We don't need to be experts on one another, but we will all benefit from seeking out others' stories and gaining at least a sliver of insight of one another's experiences.
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Promising work on this front comes to light every day; both from new approaches and traditional knowledge. It is important that these stories are shared with the public, policymakers, and between industries to inform, forge connections, and accelerate action.
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As the original storytellers and stewards of the land, Stories for Action honors the importance in amplifying the voices and leadership of Indigenous Peoples. We work to curate content from a diversity of communities, and stress the importance of amplifying stories told by storytellers from those communities.
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Thank you for connecting with our work and being a part of this community.
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