1.
STORY BRIDGE
Pathway to Change
Performance of Humanity
Dr. Qinghong Wei, Executive Director & Co-Artistic Director
www.storybridge.space

2.
FRAMEWORK
AGENCY
SOCIAL
FINAN-
CIAL
EDUCA-
TIONAL
INFORMA
-TIONAL
PSYCHO-
LOGICAL
Empowerment Framework. Source: Alsop et al, 2006.

3.
STORY BRIDGE & EMPOWERMENT
A DISSERTATION RESEARCH FROM FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Colquitt Camilla Mount Dora Minneola
Source: Wei, 2014.

4.
STORY BRIDGE & EMPOWERMENT
Source: Wei, 2014.
This multiple-case study compared Colquitt, GA, a
community that has practiced Story Bridge since 1992, with
three other communities. The research has found that:
 Respondents of Colquitt,, show the highest levels of
individual agency in 3 assets out of 4 - organizational,
psychological, and educational and skills assets.
 They also exhibit the highest degrees of empowerment
in 2 of the 3 domains – state/political and
society/community.

5.
Figure 4.14 Word Clouds of responses to the question ‘what
things you would most like to change?’ Source: Wei, 2014.
STORY BRIDGE & EMPOWERMENT

6.
Figure 4.16 Word Clouds of responses to the question ‘what is the one
thing you would most like to do in your life?’ Source: Wei, 2014
STORY BRIDGE & EMPOWERMENT

7.
Figure 4.22 Interests in Election
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Colquitt Camilla Mt Dora Minneola
Interest in Election
Not interested
Slightly interested
Fairly interested
Very interested
STORY BRIDGE & EMPOWERMENT
Source: Wei, 2014.

8.
Figure 4.31 Involvement in community decision-making
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Colquitt Camilla Mt Dora Minneola
Involvement in Community Decision-Making
Not involved at all
Slightly involved
Fairly involved
Very involved
STORY BRIDGE & EMPOWERMENT
Source: Wei, 2014.

9.
EVALUATION RESULTS
STORY BRIDGE PROJECT WITH MIGRANT WORKERS IN BEIJING, CHINA
Changes in levels of individual skills in the Beijing project.
Source: pARTicipate, 2016
3.57
3.24
3.48
3.43
2.95
3.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
领导力
管理能力
交流沟通的能力
解决冲突的能力
营销推广的能力
创造力
参加故事桥后技能水平的变化（自述）
项目结束
项目开始
Creativity
Marketing
Conflict Resolution
Communication
Management
Leadership

10.
Source: pARTicipate, 2016
The evaluation results found that after
participating in the 9-month Story Bridge
program, there was:
 20% increase in individual ability for conflict
resolution
 30% increase in self-confidence, and
 41% increase in community engagement
among participants..
EVALUATION RESULTS
STORY BRIDGE PROJECT WITH MIGRANT WORKERS IN BEIJING, CHINA

11.
EVALUATION
RESULTS
HARMONY IN
THE HILLS
Source: Community Performance International, 2017
A youth-driven,
intergenerational
Story Bridge
program funded
by U.S.
Department of
Justice
Clay County, KY
2017

12.
EVALUATION
RESULTS
HARMONY IN
THE HILLS
Source: Community Performance International, 2017

13.
EVALUATION
RESULTS
HARMONY IN
THE HILLS
To view the complete infographic:
https://create.piktochart.com/output/23486058-harmony-in-the-hills-2017

14.
Diversity =>
Inter-
generativity
Generative
Social Space
Challenges
=> Capacity
Authentic
Expression
=> Validation
EVIDENCE-
BASED
EMPOWERMENT
PATHWAYS OF
STORY BRIDGE

15.
Authenticity
Stories from the heart
Freedom to express
True stories
Diversity
Diversity adds energy
Diversity enhances
teamwork
Everyone brings
something important
Age diversity
EMPOWERMENT PATHWAYS IDENTIFIED BY PARTICIPANTS
AT SUMMIT OF COMMUNITY-BASED DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM,
CENTER FOR APPALACHIAN PHILANTHROPY, IN LEXINGTON, KY, MAY 2015
Challenges
People rise to the
challenge
Willingness to get
outside your comfort
zone
Safety to be creative
Acceptance of change
Social Space
Establish relationships
as we tell stories
Empathy, compassion
and love for each
other
New friendships by
networking and
working together
No judgment
Take the risk to speak
one’s truth
Discover unity in
diversity
Acceptance of varied
ideas when we shared
Respect of others’
views/beliefs when
they differed from
ours
Positive comments
Trust in group
Coming together as one
Source: Community Performance International, 2015

16.
Diversity =>
Inter-
generativity
Generative
Social Space
Challenges
=>
Capacity
Expression
=>
Validation
Story
Bridge
Psycho-
logical
Social
FinancialEducation
Infor-
mational
STORY
BRIDGE

17.
INFORMAL
ECONOMY
HAMIN LIU
• Communities work because
of the Generative Social
Space
– AWUG effect: Activities
with Unrelated
Generative effect
– Intentional effort to heal
and strengthen
relationships
– Festivals: cultural and
relationship renewal
• When the Generative Social
Space is
– Present and vibrant: self-
sustaining growth
– Weak and diminished:
violence and destruction

18.
NON-THEATRICAL APPLICATION
THE INTERNET SCHOOL
The first online empowerment and education program for rural China designed with the
empowerment pathways.
The program connects teachers worldwide with rural schools of China. The pilot was
launched in 2013 with one class in a middle school in Gansu. Now the program has
benefited thousands of students in multiple provinces, funded by major foundation in
China.

19.
NON-THEATRICAL APPLICATION:
THE INTERNET SCHOOL

20.
NON-THEATRICAL APPLICATION:
THE INTERNET SCHOOL
19%
7%
81%
90%
0%
3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Non-IS Students
IS Students
Very difficult Somewhat difficult Quite easy
Figure 3. Perceived level of difficulty of achieving life goals, self-reported
by students. Source: Overseas China Education Foundation, 2014.

21.
REFERENCES
• Alsop, R., Bertelsen, M.F., and Holland J. (2006). Empowerment in Practice: From Analysis
to Implementation. The World Bank.
• Community Performance International. (2015) Results Report for the Vulnerable Population
Program, May Summit. Center for Appalachian Philanthropy.
• Liu, H. (2011) In Search of the Informal Capital in Community. The Fetzer Institute.
• Liu, H. (2010) . Strengthening Local Leaders and Self-Organizing Structures in Vulnerable
Communities. Center on Community Philanthropy, Clinton School of Public Service,
University of Arkansas.
• Overseas China Education Foundation. (2014) Annual Evaluation Report for the Internet
School. Chen Family Foundation.
• pARTicipate. (2016) Evaluation Report for the Story Bridge program I in Beijing, China.
Vibrant Communities.
• Wei, Q. (2014). Creativity-based Empowerment and Development: A Multiple-Case Study to
Investigate Alternative Development Strategies in Small Towns. Florida State University.
CONTACT
Dr. Qinghong Wei
community@storybridge.space
www.storybridge.space