Happy #ListenFirst Friday from Piper Hendricks, CEO of Stories Change Power When you hear the words "Ethical Storytelling," what do you think? Most answers range from "being honest when telling a story" to "Um, wow, I have no idea." At Stories Change Power we define Ethical Storytelling as treating everyone involved in the stories you share with dignity and respect. If you're reading this Listen First Coalition message, you already know we need more dignity and respect these days. If you want to make a difference in your neighborhood, community, or country, you also need to understand the power of stories. And if you want to be an effective, empathetic, and trusted advocate, you need to understand the responsibility of storytelling, too. In June, we're kicking off a four-week course to help you do both. In one hour each week, you'll learn a people-centered approach to every stage of storytelling. You'll be in a group large enough to learn from others and small enough to have personalized support. Space is limited, so register today to join in June! https://www.storieschangepower.org/product/ethical-storytelling (fb)

What if your nonprofit’s greatest ally is someone you haven’t invited in yet? In The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Listen First Project founder Pearce Godwin, MBA Godwin makes a compelling case: many nonprofits are unintentionally limiting their impact by failing to meaningfully engage conservatives. Drawing on his own background in Republican politics and more than a decade in the bridging movement, Pearce shares practical, empathetic guidance for building trust across ideological lines — not to compromise our values, but to broaden our reach, deepen our impact, and solve problems together. ✅ Embrace humility ✅ Avoid ideological purity tests ✅ Focus on shared values like faith, family, community, and service ✅ Go to conservative spaces instead of expecting others to come to you Listen First is proud to be part of a movement that doesn’t write people off — we invite them in. Read Pearce’s full piece below and let us know: what are you doing to build a bigger table? 🔗 (fb)