Writing Event Series
Storytelling: The Crucial New Writing Skill for Public Servants
Exclusively for public servants and policymakers
Thursday, Dec 12, 2024
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Speakers
What to Do Next
- Catch up via the 7-minute highlights video above, or dive into the full recording
- Sign up for the first 2025 event, The Big Ideas in Government for 2025
- Tell us which writer you'd pick to tell the story of your life, in this thread
Join the Writing Effectively in Government Community
The Writing Effectively in Government Community is a community of practice where you can share advice, insights and resources on government writing with peers across the global public service.
Resources
- Have a look at Natasha's Presentation: Storytelling For Public Service
- Take Apolitical’s free online course, Writing Effective Briefings in the Public Service
- Use Toastmasters for getting better at presenting and public speaking
Event Description
Stories shape how we understand the world. In government, your ability to communicate effectively through storytelling has never been more important. From addressing citizens’ concerns to advocating for policy change, storytelling helps build trust, foster transparency and convey the purpose behind government actions.
This masterclass will bring together talented writers to explore the strategic use of storytelling in government. Learn how to craft compelling narratives, connect emotionally with your audience and simplify complex policy messages. Gain insights from communication experts and practitioners who have successfully used storytelling to engage citizens and stakeholders.
Join this masterclass to develop a powerful skill that enhances your ability to lead, communicate, and influence in the public sector.
Speakers
Ruth Mukwana
Helen Hamlyn Senior Fellow, Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs
United States
Natasha Jetté
Head of Digital Engagement and Change, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Canada
Ruth Mukwana, fiction writer from Uganda. She is currently the Senior Helen Hamlyn Fellow and Director of Graduate Humanitarian Studies at Fordham's Institute for International Humanitarian Affairs. Prior to joining IIHA, she was a senior United Nations official for several years with extensive experience in humanitarian action. She has a law degree from Makerere University, a Masters in International and Comparative Law from the University of Brussels and a Masters in Fine Arts and Creative Writing from Bennington College. She was a 2022 Bennington Alumni Fellow and a 2020 Center for Fiction/Susan Kamil NYC Emerging Fellow. Her short stories have appeared in several magazines including the Black Warriors Review (BWR where her story, “Taboo” was a runner-up in the BWR 2017 fiction contest. She lives with her daughter in New York and is the creator and host of Stories and Humanitarian Action (SAHA) podcast that investigates how storytelling can raise awareness and galvanize action to address the causes and consequences of humanitarian crises.
Natasha Jetté, digital transformation leader and storyteller passionate about fostering human-centric innovation in government. As Manager of Digital Engagement at Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Digital Innovation Network, she empowers teams to embrace empathy, inclusivity, and creativity, and advocates for the power of storytelling to drive meaningful change in the digital era.
