When it comes to persuading people, we know that nothing is more powerful than the authentic conversations we have with the people we know and those we meet in our communities.
Who is communicating a message is often more important than what they are communicating. We’re expanding the impact of local messengers by taking their message to video, reaching many more community members than we can with door-to-door interactions alone.
In partnership with the Video Activists Academy, we train and support a team of volunteer storytellers to capture personal stories and interviews using gear they already own—their smartphones—enhanced by equipment we provide.
We work to edit these on-the-ground stories to create 15, 30, 60, and 90 second videos and place them on paid media platforms, directing them towards people in communities that may not often hear a message about key issues from a local and personal perspective.
This project aims to make the issues our neighbors face more accessible through authentic storytelling which we know is an essential pathway to connection and persuasion.
Our goal is to place video ads like this one on digital streaming services and and social media platforms, targeted at persuadable voters in rural areas. While this is MUCH cheaper and more strategic than broadcast TV, it isn’t free! Contributions to support this project help us capture, edit, and distribute these ads. More info here about video ad distribution. Thank you for your support!
How Does it work?
We will work with a limited number of volunteers in Virginia Congressional Districts 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9 to provide brief, at-your-own-pace-training to become Video Storytellers. In addition to our investment in training resources, we will provide ongoing support staff. Video Storytellers will complete two brief training modules “Plan” and Shoot,” with an optional Short-Form Video module, and receive microphones for their smartphones along with other materials delivered to their door.
Then the fun work beings! Storytellers will reach out to their family members, friends, neighbors, and folks they meet in their community and schedule times to capture video stories. Rural GroundGame is responsible for the final ads, media release forms, and compliance.
Update: Thank you to all the wonderful Storytellers who are out interviewing members of their communities to make this project a success!!! We are currently at full capacity for Video Storytellers Volunteers. But there are still ways you can help!
Do you have a Have a story to share with one of our Storytellers?
Our Political Director, Lynlee, sitting down with her Dad, Tom, for an interview about his US Army service, healthcare, and his support for Democrats after many years of voting for Republicans.
A little training and support goes a long way
Good quality audio and decent video is make-or-break to keep viewers engaged. We’re incredibly grateful for the training and support our Storytellers receive from The Video Activists Academy. Training modules are organized by topic and made to work for any schedule.
Resources for Video Storytellers
Here’s a quick Storyteller care package tour. Thank you to all our grassroots supporters who make this work possible!
In addition to training and equipment, we will provide additional resources like open office hours for support and direct contact with staff. We are most interested in personal impact stories related to issues like:
Economic Issues
Healthcare
Public Schools
Cuts to Essential Services
Climate/Environment
Civil Rights
Workers' Rights
Infrastructure
Foreign Policy
Active Military & Veterans