Define and spread a “new story”

of how “great generations” are made

in order to encourage

cooperative understanding and behavior.

We are all in this together so we will get further if we move from the misleading story of a solitary individual reaching success by pulling themselves “up by their own bootstraps” to the real story of helping each other succeed. We create government to spread opportunity. That is how America’s “greatest generation” succeeded and what people of wealth still depend on to increase their wealth. The public sector has a role to play in leveling the playing field and creating opportunity. Making sure everyone has bootstraps!

How do we proceed?

1. Find opinion leaders who want to help co-create the new story in addition to human service providers: elected officials, faith communities, unions, business, healthcare, …

2. Collaboratively create the bones of the story. – Large gathering in July. What are the elements of the story? What are examples of success using collaborative methods? American stories? Pacific NW stories?

3. Craft elements and stories into the new story message framework. -- Work group emerges from large gathering to work with Demos message principles and pro’s.

4. Use the new story framework to deliver the specific message of the day. – Second large gathering in the fall, including a work shop format to practice using the framework in different situations. Include media in this step?

Elements the story should address:

• Cooperation/collaboration benefit everyone. Everyone does better when everyone does better.

• Role of government is to guarantee opportunity. This doesn’t mean success is guaranteed. Racial disparities and other social injustices must be addressed to level the playing field.

Story components:

• Opportunity consists of good education, healthcare, meaningful work, …what else?

• Addressing racial disparities and social injustices consists of…how to describe this?

• The “greatest generation” got the most help evening out opportunity and that’s why they were able to become the greatest. GI Bill for education, the FHA helped people buy homes, the interstate highway system allowed families to move to suburbs, …

We made other investments in our infrastructure that made possible significant job growth and economic prosperity.

Millions were helped but some groups were not a focus and benefitted less, such as African-Americans.

•We have a long history of this populist benefit in Washington State. See 1895 School Boy Law in WA State.

• In order for America to succeed now, we need to assure this opportunity, again, and this time for everyone. The so-called new GI Bill is a just a puny version of the old one.

• Relational identity rather than individual achievement. Who helps us, who do we help?

Do we need to do work leading up to this? For example “What is government for?” If together we can’t provide a safety net for our most vulnerable community members what good is it?

…government is a force for fairness, for keeping people bound to a common commitment to help each other even if we don't benefit directly. Knute Berger, Crosscut, 2-1-11

Who to collaborate with to develop the story, beyond human service providers?

Washington Budget and Policy Center

Mayor McGinn, Councilmembers, and City of Seattle

Churches

Labor

Environmental

Social Justice

Health

Education

Business

Who to collaborate with to spread the story?

Bring in media? How?

“We have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifices. Capitalism was built on the exploitation of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor.”

                                          Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For more information contact Julia Sterkovsky, Seattle Human Services Coalition,

4759 15^th Av NE, Seattle, WA 98105, 206/783-6997, shsc@shscoalition.org