Insights

Re-storying 7: Empowering children and building wider communities of caring

Mary DeMocker, author, educator, environmental activist and mother based in Eugene, Oregon

In her book The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution, Mary DeMocker introduces the concept of ‘re-storying’ as both a way of organizing activist engagement and as a method for proposing powerful new narratives capable of replacing the old tried and true stories of injustice, corporate abuse of power and government negligence. This is the seventh and final in a series of linked interview segments in which Mary explains, in terms accessible to everyone, just what it is she means by ‘re-storying.’ Drawing upon some of her own experiences as an activist and parent, two roles she sees as completely, she highlights the potential she sees in this simple concept for activating constructive change that can help leave future generations a healthy and habitable planet.

Bifrost gratefully acknowledges Stephanie LeMenager, Barbara and Carlisle Moore Distinguished Professor in English and American Literature at University of Oregon, and the leadership of the research network NIES for all their valuable work and support behind the scenes that helped make this video interview possible. Grateful acknowledgment is also made to Torsten Kjellstrand of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication for providing valuable studio facilities where this and other interviews were filmed with Eugene-based activists, scholars, lawyers and plaintiffs affiliated with Our Children’s Trust.

Re-storying 1: What does ‘re-storying’ mean?

Re-storying 2: The roots of a creative protest against a fracked gas pipeline

Re-storying 3: Small beginnings and unexpected outcomes

Re-storying 4: From shaping awareness to inspiring action

Re-storying 5: Giving life to other actions…building a community of purpose

Re-storying 6: Street Democracy

This is the sixth in a series of seven linked interview segments in which Mary explains, in terms accessible to everyone, just what it is she means by ‘re-storying.’

Re-storying 7: Empowering children and building wider communities of caring

Credit: Hartman, Steven, Peter Norrman, and Mary DeMocker. Re-storying 7: Empowering children and building wider communities of caring. Originally published in bifrostonline.org, 21 September 2018 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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