About
The future is the sum of the changes we demand, the courage we display, and how we stand with and for each other.
We Make the Future (WMTF) was founded in 2021 and is built on the implementation work of Race Class Narrative Action with ASO Communications and Faith in Minnesota and rooted in Race Class Narrative research.
WMTF serves as an implementation home for the Race Class Narrative (RCN) and other empirically backed messaging. Our goal is to increase the capacity of state, local and national partners to move a race forward narrative on our economy and democracy so they can make a compelling case for a better future for all. By combining empirically based messaging and coalition building we partner on the development and distribution of shared narratives rooted in place that motivate our base and persuade the middle.
In collaboration with partners, we do this by:
Building alignment among regional partners so they can move an empirically backed shared message that advances our vision for a multiracial democracy and pushes back at the strategic use of dog whistle racism
Facilitating workshops and other capacity building tactics
Collaborating on new research and sharing current research findings to aid groups in their campaign goals
Developing messaging guides, digital toolkits, and other narrative resources
Creating content (illustrations, ads, etc..) that demonstrates an effective narrative
Supporting the distribution of empirically backed narratives online and offline
THEORY OF CHANGE
To achieve our vision of a multiracial democracy where freedom and justice are truly for all, we need durable infrastructure.
At WMTF, durable infrastructure means strong organizations with staff skilled in delivering and echoing our shared narratives and messages in ways that inspire our base (those who are already with us) and persuadable audiences (those who can be with us) to take action.
As evidenced by many of our state partners’ successes, the best antidote to our opposition’s divisive strategies is to integrate race-forward, empirically based narrative strategy across both community organizing and communications tactics — we call this “layering” tactics — and focus these efforts at the local/state level.
WMTF’s strategy to build this infrastructure is represented by three legs of a stool. Each leg represents a strategy we use to build narrative power with our partners. All three legs are required for the impact we seek.
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We commission research with partners to develop effective narratives and messages that inspire our base and persuadable audiences to take action.
We host briefings to disseminate this research and work with partners to build their capacity to understand and conduct messaging research on their own.
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We support partners to align on a shared narrative and train them to echo the narrative through a variety of mediums. We produce messaging guides and digital toolkits, facilitate workshops, provide 1:1 coaching, host peer support spaces, support coalition building, and convene organizations in the same ecosystem.
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We create a bridge between research and implementation by working with partners to create and distribute content. Our Implementation Boo$t program assists partners with getting their narratives out to audiences through creative distribution tactics.
IMPACT REPORTS
Learn more about how we help our state partners build narrative power through research, alignment, and implementation.
CONTACT US
Reach out to info@wemakethefuture.us with your inquiry.
We frequently work on projects with ASO Communications. If you would like to know more about ASO's work, check out their website.
Read our accessibility statement.