StoryCorps One Small Step | Facilitated Storytelling Helps Public Radio Stations Bridge Divides in their Communities
Introduction
StoryCorps One Small Step’s “Radio Station Hubs” program aimed to empower public radio stations nationwide to bridge political divides in their communities through facilitated 1:1 conversations between strangers with different perspectives. When I took on program leadership in its second year, in February 2020, the challenge was equipping stations to achieve this ambitious community-building mission during a time of historic political polarization.
The Challenge
I needed to prepare stations to facilitate sensitive conversations that could genuinely foster understanding across political differences. The objectives were threefold:
Train stations in ethical facilitation practices that would help strangers find common ground despite opposing political views
Help stations develop strategic community engagement campaigns that would inspire politically diverse participants to step outside their comfort zones, and
Empower stations to create audience experiences that would inspire listeners to activate their own empathy and curiosity toward those with different perspectives
The Approach
I launched with intensive hands-on training in ethical story facilitation, then rapidly adapted the entire program for virtual delivery during the pandemic. I developed tailored facilitator scripts and recording guides, then led peer practicum sessions where stations supported each other in mastering their new skills.
“Jacqueline was fantastic. Her communication and guidance made switching gears to complete the project a breeze. ”
For strategic campaign development, I created outreach resources that helped stations connect their storytelling work with authentic community needs and facilitated cohort discussions on effective engagement strategies. To address audience experience goals, I brought in Live Virtual Events expertise and provided ready-to-use templates for hosting impactful Listening Events online. Below is a Highlight Reel from their stories and events, that I produced below to help stations uplift their collective work.
“Community reception of the Listening Event broadcast was wonderful! The number of participants that attended — and their conversations in the live chat section during the event — were so engaging and inspiring. ”
In Year 3 of the program, I refined the approach further: directing monthly strategy huddles with alumni mentors, developing Spanish-language resources for bilingual storytelling, and transforming editorial training into hands-on workshops where stations refined draft stories with peer and expert feedback.
What Made the Difference
My collaborative training model enhanced how these experienced media professionals approached storytelling work. I created structured opportunities for stations to share facilitation strategies, campaign insights, and audience engagement tactics, building on their existing collaborative relationships with deeper peer-to-peer learning.
The emphasis on strategic campaign thinking helped stations move beyond simply recording conversations to building comprehensive initiatives that meaningfully connected with their communities. The hands-on editorial workshops replaced theoretical instruction with practical skill-building, enabling stations to create stories that genuinely resonated with audiences and advanced their mission of bridging political divides.
“I loved working with Jacqueline and learning from the other stations. It was a real pleasure, and I felt very fulfilled facilitating these conversations.”
The Results
Community Bridge-Building: Over Year 2 and 3 of the program, stations successfully facilitated over 300 meaningful conversations between strangers, creating new relationships and understanding across ideological divides during one of the most polarized and isolating periods in recent American history.
Audience Inspiration: The strategic approach to sharing these stories enabled stations to host impactful Listening Events across their 12 communities that inspired community members to engage more empathetically with those holding different political views.
Sustained Community Impact: Many stations integrated these bridge-building storytelling approaches into their ongoing community engagement work, creating lasting capacity for fostering political understanding and enriching community dialogue around divisive issues.
“Learning the facilitation process was truly meaningful work. At a time in our country when we all might feel powerless, conducting conversations that build bridges is critical and powerful. Facilitators are ‘urgent care nurses’ for participants’ spirits. I am so grateful to have been a part of it.”
