Tell YourStory.
Cuenta TuHistoria.
A community guide to narrative power — and how to use your phone to build it.
Una guía comunitaria sobre el poder de las historias — y cómo usar tu teléfono para construirlo.
The side with power names the event. They choose the words that shape how everyone else sees it. When communities reclaim the story — the community wins.
El lado con poder nombra el evento. Elige las palabras que moldean cómo todes les demás lo ven. Cuando las comunidades recuperan la historia — la comunidad gana.
Every fight for change happens at three levels at once. You can't win fighting only at the top level — stories that only describe suffering don't change minds. We need to plant a different root belief.
Cada lucha por el cambio ocurre en tres niveles al mismo tiempo. No puedes ganar luchando solo en el nivel superior — las historias que solo describen sufrimiento no cambian mentes. Necesitamos sembrar una creencia raíz diferente.
Leaves — Individual Stories
Hojas — Historias Individuales
News, social posts, testimony, conversations. This is where your video lives.
Noticias, publicaciones, testimonios, conversaciones. Aquí vive tu video.
Trunk — Dominant Narrative
Tronco — Narrativa Dominante
"Immigrants are a burden. They drain resources. Giving them a license rewards lawbreaking."
"Les inmigrantes son una carga. Drenan recursos. Darles una licencia premia la ilegalidad."
Roots — Deeply Held Mindsets
Raíces — Mentalidades Profundas
Zero-Sum Scarcity: "If they get something, I lose something."
Escasez de Suma Cero: "Si elles ganan algo, yo pierdo algo."
"If the state gives immigrants services, that money comes out of roads and schools for REAL Pennsylvanians."
"Si el estado da servicios a inmigrantes, ese dinero sale de carreteras y escuelas para los pensilvanios REALES."
"We are not dividing a small pie — we are building a bigger table." Safety. Belonging. Inherent value.
"No estamos dividiendo un pastel pequeño — estamos construyendo una mesa más grande." Seguridad. Pertenencia. Valor inherente.
🧠 Data / FactsDatos / Hechos
- Analysis. Skepticism. Counter-argument.
- Análisis. Escepticismo. Contraargumento.
❤️ StoriesHistorias
- Empathy. Moral emotion. Oxytocin — trust.
- Empatía. Emoción moral. Oxitocina — confianza.
The same situation told two different ways produces completely different reactions. Version B works because it shows agency, a specific moment, and a value at stake — not just suffering.
La misma situación contada de dos maneras diferentes produce reacciones completamente distintas. La Versión B funciona porque muestra agencia, un momento específico y un valor en juego — no solo sufrimiento.
"It is so hard not having a license. I am afraid every time I drive. I don't know what will happen to my family."
"Es tan difícil no tener licencia. Tengo miedo cada vez que manejo. No sé qué le pasará a mi familia."
"Every morning I made a choice. I drove to work knowing the risk because my family needed me and this state needed my labor. I have paid taxes here for 11 years. I am done being invisible."
"Cada mañana tomé una decisión. Manejé al trabajo sabiendo el riesgo porque mi familia me necesitaba y este estado necesitaba mi trabajo. Llevo 11 años pagando impuestos aquí. Estoy harte de ser invisible."
A Specific Moment
Un Momento Específico
Not a general situation — one moment. Tuesday at the red light. Your hands on the steering wheel. A specific day, a specific scene. Start your video in the moment.
No una situación general — un momento. El martes en el semáforo en rojo. Tus manos en el volante. Un día específico, una escena específica. Empieza tu video en el momento.
The Value at Stake
El Valor en Juego
Not an inconvenience — what you were afraid of losing. Safety. Dignity. The right to exist here. Your family. Name it.
No una inconveniencia — lo que tenías miedo de perder. Seguridad. Dignidad. El derecho a existir aquí. Tu familia. Nómbralo.
Who You Became
En Quien Te Convertiste
What did you do? What choice did you make? The story ends with agency, not suffering. You are the protagonist, not the victim.
¿Qué hiciste? ¿Qué decisión tomaste? La historia termina con agencia, no con sufrimiento. Eres el/la/le protagoniste, no la víctima.
Ask yourself — or have a friend ask you — these four questions out loud before pressing record. The coaching IS the work.
Hazte estas cuatro preguntas — o pídele a une amigue que te las haga — en voz alta antes de grabar. Orientar ES el trabajo.
Use these for a fuller interview (up to 3.5 min). Great if you want to say more than one moment.
Úsalas para una entrevista más completa (hasta 3.5 min). Ideal si quieres decir más que un momento.
Your story doesn't need a studio. It needs truth. But these six things make sure people can actually see and hear it.
Tu historia no necesita un estudio. Necesita verdad. Pero estas seis cosas aseguran que la gente pueda verte y escucharte.
📱 Vertical OnlySolo Vertical
Hold your phone upright — tall, not wide. Horizontal = black bars = smaller face = fewer views. TikTok, Reels, Shorts are all vertical.
Sostén tu teléfono vertical — alto, no ancho. Horizontal = barras negras = cara más pequeña = menos vistas. TikTok, Reels y Shorts son todos verticales.
🪟 Face a WindowDe Cara a la Ventana
Natural light should be in front of you, never behind. Light behind you creates a silhouette — no face, no connection.
La luz natural debe estar frente a ti, nunca detrás. La luz detrás crea una silueta — sin rostro, sin conexión.
📏 Stay Close — 1 Meter MaxQuédate Cerca — 1 Metro Máximo
Every extra meter permanently kills audio quality. Your face should fill most of the frame. Eyes in the upper third of the screen.
Cada metro extra destruye permanentemente la calidad del audio. Tu cara debe llenar la mayor parte de la pantalla. Ojos en el tercio superior.
🏠 Stable SurfaceSuperficie Estable
Prop the phone on a table, a stack of books, or a stand. Shaky video loses viewers in the first five seconds.
Apoya el teléfono en una mesa, unos libros o un soporte. El video inestable pierde espectadores en los primeros cinco segundos.
🔇 Silence Your SpaceSilencia Tu Espacio
Turn off fans, AC, TV, and refrigerators. Close windows facing the street. Silence first, then record.
Apaga ventiladores, AC, televisores y refrigeradores. Cierra las ventanas que dan a la calle. Silencio primero, luego graba.
🎧 Earbuds = Better MicAudífonos = Mejor Micrófono
Plug in earbuds and hold the wire near your collar — picks up cleaner audio than the built-in mic. Outdoors: sleeve over mic = 80% wind noise gone.
Conecta audífonos y sostén el cable cerca del cuello — capta audio más limpio. Al aire libre: manga sobre el mic = 80% del ruido de viento eliminado.
Record 15 seconds and play it back with earbuds before your real recording.
Graba 15 segundos y escúchalo con audífonos antes de tu grabación real.
✅ Clear = you're ready to go
✅ Claro = estás liste para grabar
❌ Hard to hear = move closer
❌ Difícil de escuchar = acércate más
🛡 Safety First
🛡 Seguridad Primero
- Talk with your organizer before filming about your situation.
- Not every story needs a face — audio only, silhouette, or first name only are all valid.
- Consider: who might see this? Screenshots travel.
- Habla con tu organizadore antes de filmar sobre tu situación.
- No toda historia necesita un rostro — solo audio, silueta o solo primer nombre son válidos.
- Considera: ¿quién podría ver esto? Las capturas de pantalla se comparten.
📋 Consent Form
📋 Formulario de Consentimiento
- DPF provides a one-page release in English and Spanish.
- You sign before the video is submitted — non-negotiable.
- You will review and approve the final edited video before it goes public.
- DPF provee un formulario de una página en inglés y español.
- Firmas antes de enviar el video — sin excepción.
- Revisarás y aprobarás el video final editado antes de que se publique.
📤 How to Submit
📤 Cómo Enviar
OUR VALUES
We at the Coalition prioritize and value leadership from the immigrant community. We open our doors to any immigrant and allied community who wants to get involved because we believe strength lies in diversity.
We promote unity and collaboration in community work, respecting the skills and knowledge from life experiences as immigrants. Second, we believe that immigrants are those who have the expertise to advocate for themselves, as we appreciate the support of allies who believe in justice for immigrants and respect our inclusion. Third, we believe in the value of mutuality as a starting point, as we all have the skills to contribute and learn. Finally, we believe in the freedom to express our knowledge and creativity without fear of judgment.
The Coalition is state-wide, committed to working with good communication and responsibility for our work. We share work, ideas, and opinions about each campaign step. We are committed to fulfilling all our work goals because we know we work for all immigrant communities in Pennsylvania. We support and include all communities regardless of race, country of origin, language, immigration status, social class, gender, sexual orientation, age, or criminal history. We believe in second chances. We appreciate taking chances without fear of making mistakes and taking responsibility, and we maintain open minds to learn from mistakes. We promote faith in the divine, our communities, leaders, and teamwork. We work with humility, integrity, commitment, and responsibility to support each other in a supportive, respectful, and inclusive manner.
Contact Us
If you or your organization or group want to get involved or you want to donate your time to volunteer in any particular tasks needed to move this campaign forward, please use this contact form and we’ll get back to you.
