Nonprofits are not generally known to be places of innovation but in a time when journalism is being destroyed by pay walls and nearly 70% of digital advertising is being sold to Google, Facebook, and Amazon it is more important than ever that organizations have deep expertise in telling their own stories. Rashad Robinson, the executive director and founder of the digital native online organizing platform, Color of Change has written about the need to develop narrative infrastructure within movements. To develop this narrative infrastructure we must understand that this is not the same as communications and public relations expertise. Robinson writes, in his paper, “Changing the Narrative about Narrative,”

“Narrative infrastructure is singularly about equipping a tight network of people organizing on the ground and working within various sectors to develop strategic and powerful narrative ideas, and then, against the odds of the imbalanced resources stacked against us, immerse people in a sustained series of narrative experiences required to enduringly change hearts, minds, behaviors and relationships.”

To do this work, Robinson states we need to do three things to change our orientation towards narrative.

1. We need the ability to follow-through on narrative and cultural dispersion and immersion — over time, across segments and at scale.

2. We need actual human beings to serve as our main vehicle for achieving narrative change — people who are authentic, talented, equipped, motivated and networked.

3. We cannot forsake the power of brands — the relationships responsible for the way that most people come to change their thinking, reshape their feeling and redirect their behaviors.

Building upon the work we produced on strategic narrative in the Blueprint for Belonging program at the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC-Berkeley we will look at emerging narratives amongst global Muslim communities by researching local, national, and global Muslim arts, culture, media, and knowledge production. This research will include but not be limited to: 

• Media Production 

• The Worldview of Islam 

• Social Movements / Religious Movements 

• Arts  

• Film

• Educational development 

• Music   

• Muslims in Tech

This research area will also include the development of diverse digital courses on these topics and the development of:

• The Center for Global Muslim Life Film Series / Film Festival 

• The Center for Global Muslim Life  Summer fellows program, creating  opportunities for scholars and artists from around the world to work with the resources available at our partner institutions.

• Research, film, and audio archives 

• Unique oral history projects focused on underrepresented and diverse Muslim communities

• Study Abroad Programs focused on this area of study