Multicultural Storytelling Toolkit
Background
Goals
Why use this Toolkit? Benefits of Multicultural Storytelling
What distinguishes our Storytelling Process
Multicultural Storytelling Toolkit with DVD
Pricing Guide
How to Order
License/Order Form
Multicultural Storytelling:
A New Process for Community Engagement
| The quality of engagement between institutions and the communities they serve largely determines whether policies and programs reflect the interests of all groups. In 2006, the Minneapolis Department of Health (MHD) developed a community advisory committee reflective of the predominant racial/ethnic groups residing in Minneapolis. This Urban Health Agenda Community Advisory Committee was charged with helping the department develop a new community engagement model. To this end, the department embarked upon a partnership to pilot a multicultural health storytelling project. |
Background
The Multicultural Storytelling Toolkit grew out of a series of ethnic-specific inter-generational storytelling events held in Minneapolis. Ten storytelling events were held and videotaped with members of the: African American, American Indian, Caucasian, Hmong, Latino, Somali, and Vietnamese communities. Gender-specific events were held in the African American and Somali communities. The focus of the events was to “Tell us about a time when your family/community was healthy.”
The department and advisory committee completed a short DVD synopsis of the events which also emphasizes the power of stories and listening in order to begin taking action. While 6 dominant themes are highlighted throughout the DVD, the uniqueness of each different cultural group is also illustrated. Since many stories were shared in the native languages of the respective communities, English subtitles are provided within the DVD.
Goals
- To assist health/human service professionals to improve their responsiveness to multicultural communities
- To increase understanding of how multicultural communities define “health” as a result of a local initiative
- To teach health/human service professionals how to use storytelling as a community engagement process with communities they serve
Why Use This Toolkit?
Benefits of Using Multicultural Storytelling
- Preferred way to share information in most communities
- Input from the community improves health delivery
- Empowers storytellers and community members to be actively involved in their health and healing
- Draws attention towards and respect of untapped skills, talents and assets community members possess
- Builds long-term relationships more easily among professionals and the communities they serve
- Promotes inclusiveness and determines meaning behind quantitative data
- Certified Promising Practice by National Association of County & City Health Officials
What Distinguishes Our Storytelling Process?
- Strength-based
- Intergenerational
- Culturally and linguistically-tailored
- Storytelling events are led by members of the community
- Community members analyze the meaning of the stories
- Cross-cultural process strengthens collective voice and trustful relationships among professionals, institutions and communities they serve
Multicultural Storytelling Toolkit with DVD
Minneapolis Department of Health and their community partners have developed this teaching resource for educators, current and future health and human service users in non-profit organizations, state, county and local government departments and private organizations involved in the health and human services fields. The toolkit includes the following: |
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- DVD (18:43 minutes)
- A DVD Viewing guide
- Three teaching modules
1. Increase understanding of “Health” in multicultural communities
2. The 10-step storytelling process
3. Try the storytelling process - Sample PowerPoint presentation re: 10 Steps in Using a Multicultural
Storytelling Process - Pre- and post-storytelling event Checklist, including sample line-item budget
- Post-training Event survey
- Feedback form for toolkit
* All proceeds from the toolkit will be dedicated by the Minneapolis Department of Health to continue community-based initiatives such as the establishment of a multicultural institute.
**Also included with the toolkit for publically funded institutions and private groups is a 30 min. consultation w/ one of our Urban Health Agenda Community Advisory Committee members, as available.
How to Order
- Contact health@minneapolismn.gov
Minneapolis Health Department
250 South 4th Street, Room 510
Minneapolis, MN 55415
If you need this material in an alternative format please call Minneapolis Health Department at 612-673-2301 or email health@minneapolismn.gov.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons may use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users may call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.
Attention: If you have any questions regarding this material please call Minneapolis Health Department 612-673-2301. Hmong - Ceeb toom. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais cov xov no rau koj dawb, hu 612-673-2800; Spanish - Atencion. Si desea recibir asistencia gratuita para traducir esta informacion, llama 612-673-2700; Somali - Ogow. Haddii aad dooneyso in lagaa kaalmeeyo tarjamadda macluumaadkani oo lacag la' aan wac 612-673-3500
Last updated Jun. 19, 2013