Re-Storying for Regenerative Futures

"In 2017 wildfires ravaged Sonoma County and subsequent years have brought additional fires. We were not ready for the magnitude of destruction or trauma. NewStories has been a vital partner in helping us see beyond just the material losses to the true community impact of these disasters. Additionally, they are helping us chart a path towards a sustainable and regenerative approach to future disasters."

"After the Camp Fire devastated Paradise and Magalia, NewStories representative Bob Stilger helped us navigate the crucial question: 'Now that we've lost all that we once called normal, what's next?' By facilitating gatherings that broke down community silos, NewStories served as midwife to a vision of the future that continues to inspire our community. Six years later, the Paradise Ridge continues to regenerate with these principles woven into our town planning. NewStories is the essential partner when community life faces catastrophe. They identify emerging narratives and facilitate ways to live into them. In an era of mounting environmental disasters, I highly recommend NewStories to all communities in recovery."

"While many groups showed up with answers after the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise, NewStories showed up to ask questions. It was through their listening and asking that we identified our own unique path towards recovery and rebuilding. NewStories had an understanding and patience for our experience that was missing from other agencies. Their process reflects the greater work that is needed: gather together, listen and share our experience, identify what is meaningful, name our work, and take the next efficient step. Through working with NewStories, we not only identified the work that needed to be done but we also identified ourselves in that work, making our recovery efforts both lasting and meaningful."

"When the huge earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan on March 11, 2011, NewStories was there supporting us when we needed them most. They showed us that our definition of success might change in the face of disaster, and helped transform our society toward building more resilient communities. Their commitment has been extraordinary, contributing hundreds of days to Japan's recovery. NewStories brings not just tools and methodologies that help people come together after disaster, but most importantly, they bring their whole being—allowing us to reconnect with one another and with nature, and to be curious about what's possible for our future."

For the past five years, NewStories has provided the guidance, clarity, and focus that helped us articulate a new vision of how communities devastated by wildfires can begin to recover and regenerate themselves. They extended the invitation for leaders from multiple Long-Term Recovery Groups to meet, which sparked interest from over thirty veterans of various recovery operations across six Northern California counties. Their approach created a space for us to examine critical issues and develop an action plan that's moving our vision forward as the Northern California Communities Affected by Wildfires Collaboratory.

In moments of challenge, doubt, or frustration, NewStories shows up as deep listeners, echoing back what they hear and offering perspectives that help communities feel less alone and more firmly on their path. They affirm our work as part of the larger tapestry of 'new stories'—not fairy tales, but real stories of the future becoming human community to be lived into, to be embodied and co-created. They serve as a bridge for others to support regenerative work in communities facing various forms of disruption. NewStories are friends. They are kin. They are part of who we are, and who we are still becoming.

When I first came across New Stories 20 years ago, through Bob Stilger, I was deeply impressed by his ability to listen deeply and understand both complex contexts and solutions. At that time, we were in the first five years of our organization, going through a deep crisis and considering giving up. First, NewStories helped us to better understand our work and its value to the world. That gave us a good reason not to give up. Second, they helped us see ways that were not visible to us, to overcome the crisis and move forward. It worked! Twenty years later, we have grown in size and strength. And we are still pleased to partner with NewStories, always on inspiring projects.