Maru Castañeda

Narrative 4 (N4) is a global organization driven by artists, shaped by educators and led by students. Our core methodology, the story exchange, is designed to help students understand that their voices, stories, actions and lives matter, and that they have the power to change, rebuild and revolutionize systems. The Story Exchange The story exchange, the core methodology behind N4's work, highlights our shared humanity. We've led thousands of exchanges around the world, and we can assure you they are always breathtakingly complex and deeply impactful. In a story exchange, individuals are paired together and participants share a story that in some way defines them. Afterwards, participants are responsible for telling their partner's story in the first person. Through the exchange of personal narratives we see the world, and ourselves, more empathically, a belief supported by the work of neuroscientists and by the experiences of story exchange participants. Empathy into Action Our Empathy into Action campaigns are designed to break open intractable issues through innovative applications of the story exchange and replicable models for community action around the world. Narrative 4 supports its growing global family with events and opportunities designed to deepen connections, extend learning, and continually reaffirm the conviction that every human has a story worthy of respect. The Artists Network Colum McCann and Ishmael Beah, N4 founding members and world-renowned authors, are leading the charge to build our network of 300+ artists in the next three to five years. These artists will revitalize classroom learning with their inspirational works and their physical or virtual presence at key points in an EIA campaign or learning module. They will ignite students' passion for connecting, learning from one another and ultimately realizing that every day is a new story, lesson and landscape, with endless opportunities.