FrameWorks Institute

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s common for conversations to quickly turn into sensitive debates. Have an uncle that loves telling people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps? Anticipate seeing that family friend who just wants people to “make better choices”? It’s easy to try and directly refute or correct harmful or incomplete claims, but there are better ways of moving people BEYOND seeing ‘individual responsibility’ as the only answer. People are not easily convinced to change their minds, especially when their views are shared by others. And when we repeat or directly rebut what people already believe to try to move them to a new idea, we are working against the way our cognitive systems work. Instead of correcting beliefs, we often end up strengthening them. Instead, focus on broader themes (like the systems and environments that shape all of our realities) and the ideas we want to grow. Doing so creates space for productive conversations and opens the door for real connection and change.

What role does philanthropy play in making narrative change possible? Welcome to the eighth episode of Narrative Know-How. This week, we’re looking at how philanthropy can strengthen the infrastructure behind narrative change—the relationships, research, resources, and know-how that make it work. Philanthropy can: 1. Invest in research that helps us understand public thinking, existing narratives, and the power and potential of new ones 2. Strengthen backbone organizations that align and amplify shared narratives 3. Build partnerships across creative and advocacy fields 4. Bring in storytellers whose voices are often overlooked Narrative change needs an ecosystem, and philanthropy is essential in building it. See you next week for our final episode: 3 things to remember about narrative change!

Last chance to register and submit your questions for tomorrow’s special Ask Us Anything from 1–2 PM ET📣 This month, we’d love to hear what’s top-of-mind for you as you communicate about democracy, authoritarianism, the rule of law, the Constitution, and other related issues. What challenges are coming up? What strategic efforts might our research be able to inform? Are there insights you’d like that we haven’t yet shared? Register and drop your questions using the link in the comments to join us for an open conversation.

Why doesn’t good data always lead to action? Numbers can’t tell the whole story on their own. They add texture to your argument, but without context, people fill in the story themselves—often relying on unhelpful assumptions about race, gender, poverty, or other issues to explain what’s behind the numbers. Whenever presenting data, highlight why this data is important; provide clear explanations about what your evidence shares; and whenever possible, include a solution or call to action so your audience knows what they need to support to create change. It also helps to START with a clear message, THEN bring in your data to back it up. Help people understand how things should work—and what’s not working—before showing who’s most affected. Well-framed data builds understanding and shows how we can make things better together.

Join us Wednesday, November 19 from 1–2pm ET for a special Ask Us Anything! We’ve now held seven monthly briefings on how ongoing research can help us understand and navigate the public’s reactions to current threats to democracy. This month, we’d love to hear what’s top-of-mind for you as you communicate about democracy, authoritarianism, the rule of law, the Constitution, and other related issues. What challenges are coming up? What strategic efforts might our research be able to inform? Are there insights you’d like that we haven’t yet shared? Register and drop your questions using the link in the comments to join us for an open conversation.

How do we know if our narrative change efforts are actually working? Welcome to the seventh episode of Narrative Know-How. As we’ve discussed throughout this series, narrative change doesn’t happen overnight—it unfolds over years, even decades. But there are ways to see whether your story is starting to take root. From the Emergent Stage, when your narrative first enters the world, to the Achieved Stage, when it becomes dominant, each phase offers signs of progress and key questions to ask: What story are we telling? Who is it reaching? Is it influencing decisions? Has it reshaped systems and mindsets? By tracking progress at each stage, we can see not just if our story is being told but whether it’s actually taking hold. Join us next week as we explore philanthropy’s role in narrative change efforts!

Join Julie Sweetland, PhD with the North Carolina Public Health Association for their next monthly webinar, Countering Chaos and Manufactured Controversies in Public Health, on Friday, November 14 at 12:00 PM. Dr. Sweetland will share a conceptual framework for understanding patterns in deceptive public language and offer practical, evidence-based strategies and tactics for responding effectively.

As Americans grow more concerned about division, many are calling for unity as the answer. Our research shows that when people hear about unity, they don’t always interpret it in the same way or reach the same conclusions. There are actually two main mental models of unity: One is backward-looking, and involves returning to a time when “we were more united.” Another is forward-looking, hinging on the idea that unity can only come from PROGRESS made by confronting the injustices that have divided us. That difference matters. Depending on how we portray unity, people can reach vastly different conclusions about what it will take to achieve it. Our latest blog post explores how to frame unity through progress by connecting division to injustice, and explaining that addressing inequities can bring people together around shared purpose.

This month, we celebrate the millions of family caregivers who give their time, energy, and love to support their children, parents, and loved ones. Care doesn’t just happen at home—it happens everywhere, through every choice we make as a society. Collective caregiving reminds us that supporting families and loved ones doesn’t just have to be an individual responsibility, but a shared one. Too many families face barriers to essential care. From complicated healthcare systems to policies that leave some communities underserved, caring for loved ones is made harder by structural inequities. By considering how policies and community actions impact families, children. and caregivers, we can create ways to support everyone who depends on care—which is all of us! Collective caregiving starts with recognizing that care happens everywhere—in every policy, every community, and every decision. This #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth, let’s make sure we make care a shared responsibility and build solutions where all children, families, and loved ones can flourish.

Diaper need isn’t a personal failure—it’s a result of policies and systems that don’t support families. According to The NDBN Diaper Check 2024, nearly half of families with young children in the U.S. struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy. Yet this reality is largely missing from public understanding, and when people do think about it, they often blame parents rather than recognizing the systemic causes behind it. A new framing brief from the FrameWorks Institute and the National Diaper Bank Network explores why this gap in understanding exists and how to close it. Built on two years of research, it introduces strategies to reframe diaper need as a systemic issue rooted in inequality and policy decisions, helping us move conversations away from blame and toward collective responsibility. Read the full brief here: https://lnkd.in/eg-j3Wem