Stories are our foundation.
Narrative Change
The world needs to hear the lived experiences of low-income families.
The vast majority of our country’s poverty policies and strategies rely on false beliefs and assumptions about low-income families—particularly those headed by Black mothers. These harmful narratives are woven so tightly into our social fabric that even families themselves may believe them or hold onto them as a survival mechanism. It’s time for the world to hear the real, accurate stories and lived experiences of low-income families. To do this, we must build public platforms from which families can challenge prevailing perceptions and change biased and outdated narratives.
By participating in resident-driven coaching, community-support programs, and cultural experiences focused on Black history, residents of federally subsidized housing learn to tell new stories about themselves and their history. These stories recognize their inherent worth—to themselves, their families, and their communities. Sharing helps residents reclaim their dignity, autonomy, and self-motivation.
Storytelling Series
Our Resident Storytelling programs offer media literacy and storytelling training that guides residents in confidently sharing their experiences with local and national audiences. We partner with news outlets, policy agencies, and advocacy organizations to access platforms where residents can share honestly and contribute to shaping more just and accurate narratives about people experiencing poverty.
As resident storytelling begins to shift public understanding and opinion, our staff, Fellows, allies, and collaborators will leverage these shifts to push for corresponding improvements in policymaking and community norms and practices.
2024 Stories from The Magnolia Mother’s Trust for Ms. Magazine
Meet Tashai
Hear from Tashai as she shares about the way receiving a guaranteed income allowed her to spend more time with her kids and work a reasonable number of hours.
Meet LaKeisha
LaKeisha shares about how she wants to be a bright light for her children and an inspiration to them.
Meet Mica
Hear from Mica as she discusses her struggles of navigating SNAP.
Meet Seantel
Seantel, a mother of three, shares her dreams of being a successful business woman.
Meet Kiara
A mother of three, Kiara shares her story of graduating school and being able to find a house for her and her family.
Meet Louneda
Louneda discusses the cost of groceries while raising her son in Jackson, Mississippi.
Meet Tamara
Tamara reflects on how MMT helped her support her family during the pandemic and allowed her to do things for her kids she hadn’t done in years.
Meet Ebony
Ebony shares her definition of financial security and explains how she’s breaking generational curses by encouraging her kids to “work hard and work smart.”
Meet Tamika
Tamika explains how participating in MMT meant she didn’t have to choose between paying her bills and celebrating her children’s birthdays.
Meet LaKeisha
LaKeisha remembers how MMT helped alleviate the anxiety she felt during the pandemic after it became clear she would no longer be able to return to her job.
Meet Ashley
Ashley calls participating in the MMT “nothing but a blessing” and explains that guaranteed income has allowed her to pay bills, save money, and plan for the future.
Springboard Stories, Front & Center
Front & Center, a groundbreaking, first-person storytelling collaboration with Ms Magazine, features the voices of Springboard mothers navigating existing social safety net programs while caring for their families, building careers, and working toward their dreams.
A PUBLICATION OF SPRINGBOARD TO OPPORTUNITIES
Springboard Speaks
Springboard Speaks is a forum where we regularly share news, research updates, and residents’ stories with readers who care about innovations in economic justice. If you wish to subscribe, enter your name and email address in the form at the bottom of this page.
Springboard Reports & Policy Briefs
Our storytelling work includes communicating the empirical value of our programming and our positions on policy issues that disproportionately affect low-income Black mothers.
Here, you will find the latest research studies evaluating our work and detailed descriptions of our advocacy priorities that you can use to promote narrative and legislative change in your community.
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