Our Mission

Our Collective uses story, media, and theology to build narrative power and create inclusive communities and cultures of care.

We develop the power to shift culture by executing narrative campaigns and training individuals to tell stories, shape narratives, and shift our shared beliefs so all people can thrive and live their lives with dignity. We accomplish this by:

  • Training individuals and organizations to tell stories, build narratives, and shift culture in their sphere of influence.

  • Developing community leaders who train others and execute campaigns.

  • Executing narrative and culture change campaigns.

  • Providing immersive cultural and theological experiences to community members.

Our Vision

We are building communities that use their power for our collective well-being. Our future is grounded in care and free of oppression. Our communities are self-determining without causing harm to others, and individuals don’t see differences as divisive. These values and cultures enable us to realize and sustain a healthy and functioning democracy.

Our Values

Community

We believe in the collective power of our communities. We are committed to deepening relationships, nurturing partnerships, and taking action together – across our differences and in alignment with our shared values. We commit to extending trust and mutual respect as we work to create cultures of care in our communities.

Collective Well-Being

We are striving for our collective liberation, a state where no group oppresses or has power over another; instead, all individuals across race, ethnicity, identity, location, and socioeconomic status are safe and self-determining. We recognize that we live in a society and world of abundance, and there is enough for us all. We refuse to fight over scraps and instead aim to exercise our power together for the common good.

Interdependence

We know that our communities are mutually dependent. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., described our interdependence or interconnectedness perfectly in the “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” when he wrote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” We are all on this journey together, and in the spirit of Fannie Lou Hamer, we will not be free until our neighbors are free.

Power

At Our Collective, we define Power as the resources and influence to have impact. Our Collective works to build people power and narrative power to shift culture and influence society’s values, systems, and structures. Our Collective uses its power to educate others and influence individuals and communities to be more inclusive so everyone experiences belonging, care, and support in our society.

Integrity

Integrity is central to all we do. We are committed to being honest, consistent, ethical, and authentic in all we do and to creating an environment where our members can do the same as their authentic selves. Our integrity keeps us true to ourselves, our community, our mission, and our care of others.