Narrative Team
About the Team
The Narrative Team believes the stories a community tells about itself can shape what people believe is possible.
The team works to identify, create, and share stories that highlight people and organizations working together to make a difference in Alamance County. Rather than simply telling “good news” stories, the team looks for stories that show how community members are building something new, working across differences, and creating ripples of change.
What We Heard: Shared Aspirations
The team began its work against a backdrop of a persistent negative narrative about Alamance County—one that often focused on division, conflict, and what was going wrong.
Through the broader For Alamance work, the team saw an opportunity to help create a different kind of community story: one that recognizes challenges while also making visible the people, relationships, collaborations, and actions that demonstrate what is possible.
The goal is not to ignore the difficult parts of community life. It is to make sure the full story of Alamance—including its creativity, collaboration, persistence, and progress—is visible.
Turning Aspirations into Action
The Narrative Team develops stories that highlight community action and the relationships behind it. Team members look for examples of people and organizations working together in new ways, then share those stories through a growing network of community partners and channels.
The team has also created tools to make community storytelling more accessible. Have a story to share? Submit a story idea.
Stories can also be explored through the For Alamance Community Narratives collection.
Want to tell your own story? The Community Narrative Playbook offers guidance for writing stories from a perspective that centers community voices, shared aspirations, and the people helping create change.
The team continues to develop new community narratives and explore ways to expand their reach so that more residents can see themselves in the story of Alamance County—and see opportunities to contribute to what comes next.
The team also welcomed a student writer from Elon University, who now serves as an active team member. Through identifying story ideas, conducting interviews, writing, and producing stories, the student helps highlight community action and amplify local voices.
Illustrating the Impact
The illustration below highlights the work of the Narrative Team, capturing the team’s progress and impact from its establishment in early 2023 through 2025. As part of Alamance County’s Ripples of Change report, it tells the evolving story of the team’s efforts, celebrating key accomplishments and the ripple effects of their work throughout the community.
Team Leadership & Get Involved
Team Leads: Keren Rivas and Linda Gupton
The Narrative Team welcomes storytellers, writers, photographers, communicators, community connectors, and anyone who believes that telling a fuller story about Alamance can help create momentum for positive change.
Interested in helping identify and share stories of community action? Contact our Program Director, Jewel White at jewel.white@conehealth.com to learn more.