Your Story, Your Power
A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Politically Active
Your Voice is a Catalyst
You don't need a law degree or a megaphone to make change. If you care about your community, if you’ve ever felt frustrated by injustice, or if you simply want a better future — you already have everything you need to be politically active.
At Pro-Choice Minnesota, we know that the most powerful political movements begin with something deeply personal: your lived experience.
This guide is for you — whether you’re a seasoned activist or taking your first step into advocacy. We’re going to show you how to harness your personal story, have meaningful conversations, and create real political impact — starting today.
Why Your Voice Matters (and Always Has)
Politics often feels like something “out there” — in the Capitol, on the news, or behind closed doors. But at its core, politics is personal. It’s how we decide who gets care, who has freedom, and who gets heard.
Your voice matters because:
You are a trusted messenger. People listen to people they know — not to ads or algorithms.
You shape the culture. When you talk openly about reproductive freedom, you normalize it.
You influence decisions. Local leaders, lawmakers, and campaigns pay attention when they hear from real people.
Change doesn’t start in committee meetings. It starts when you talk to your friend about why you voted. It grows when you share how abortion access affected someone you love. It starts with you.
The Power of Storytelling in Political Conversations
If facts alone could change minds, we'd all agree by now.
But what actually changes hearts and votes? Emotion. Shared values. Human connection.
When you tell a story rooted in your values — justice, dignity, compassion — you create space for empathy. People don’t need to agree with every detail of your position to feel what you feel.
Consider this difference:
✖ Fact-based pitch: “Policy X is supported by 68% of voters.”
✔ Story-based pitch: “I’ll never forget when my sister couldn’t get care after her miscarriage. That’s why I fight for reproductive freedom — so no one else has to feel alone.”
Which one sticks with you? Which one would you repeat to a friend?
Stories make policies personal. And personal is powerful.
How to Tell Your Story: The 5-Step Framework
This isn’t about writing a novel or performing on stage. It’s about being real, being you, and showing others what drives you. Here’s how to do it:
1. Identify Your Core Values
Ask yourself: What do I care most about? What makes me feel proud, outraged, or inspired?
Write down 2–3 values that feel essential to who you are. Examples:
Autonomy
Fairness
Safety
Family
Justice
Freedom
These are the heartbeat of your story.
2. Share a Personal Experience
Think of a moment that made that value real for you.
Examples:
You watched a friend get denied reproductive healthcare due to state restrictions.
You couldn’t access birth control because your insurance didn’t cover it.
You grew up in a family that believed in choice — and now you pass those values to your kids.
You don’t need a dramatic story. You just need an honest one.
3. Connect to a Campaign, Policy, or Movement
Now ground your story in what’s happening around you:
“That’s why I support full abortion access — because no one should have to suffer for wanting to make the best choice for themselves.”
“That’s why I volunteer with Pro-Choice Minnesota — because we’re fighting to make healthcare a human right.”
This turns your personal experience into a political bridge.
4. Explain Why This Moment Matters
Timing is everything. What’s at stake right now? Is there a vote, a ban, a candidate, or a community moment coming up?
Examples:
“This fall’s election could decide whether abortion is protected in our state.”
“Our school board is pushing for book bans — and we need to show up.”
Your urgency can spark theirs.
5. Craft Your 30-Second Story
Now put it all together into one powerful message you can share in everyday conversations.
Here’s a sample:
“I believe in freedom — especially the freedom to make our own healthcare choices. When my cousin was denied an abortion after a miscarriage, it devastated her. That’s why I’m supporting candidates who will protect reproductive rights this November. Because we all deserve care — not cruelty.”
Practice it. Say it out loud. Share it online. Use it in line at the grocery store. This is your call to action.
Who Should You Talk To? Start With Your People
Don’t wait for a campaign manager. Your power is in your relationships. Political conversations are most effective when they happen between people who already trust each other.
Start by listing people in your life:
Category
Examples
Always votes
Your sister, your friend from work
Avoids politics
Your gym buddy, your cousin
Undecided or on the fence
Your neighbor, your old roommate
Passionate but quiet
Your book club friend, your pastor
These are your conversation starters. You don't need to convince everyone — just connect.
How to Have the Conversation: Scripts & Strategies
Many people worry: “What if it gets awkward?”
Here’s the secret: Most people want to talk — they just don’t know how to start.
Here are some entry points:
“Have you been following what’s happening with abortion access in our state?”
“How are you feeling about the upcoming election?”
“Did you hear about the ban the school board just passed?”
Then listen. And when you’re ready, share your story. Try phrases like:
“That really hit home for me because…”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what freedom means lately…”
Avoid debates. Aim for understanding, not winning.
Track Your Conversations and Build Power
If you talk to five people and forget what you said or how they responded, that’s a lost opportunity.
Track it.
Use your Notes app, Google Sheets, or an organizing tool like Reach or Rally to keep track:
✅ Who you talked to
✅ What they care about
✅ How they feel about the issue
✅ What action they might take
This is how organizers build campaigns. This is how you become an organizer.
Take the Challenge: One Story. One Conversation. One Week.
You don’t need to change the whole world tomorrow.
Start small:
Write your 30-second story
Make a list of 5 people
Have 1 meaningful conversation this week
That’s it. Just one. Then another. Then another.
This is how we win — by multiplying our voices, one real connection at a time.
Ready to Go? Here’s What’s Next
🎥 Watch the full video training on YouTube
🔔 Follow us on Instagram and sign up for updates from Pro-Choice Minnesota
Final Words: Your Story is Enough
You are not too quiet. You are not too new. You are not too small.
Your lived experience matters.
And when we all start talking — really talking — to the people we know and love, that’s how we build the future we deserve.
Let’s build power — one story at a time.