Narrative Initiative

Raised in Davao, Philippines, Naro Alonzo is a tagahabi, or psychosocial accompaniment, for a collective offering ginhawa (wellbeing) and care support to social justice defenders and communities struggling against human rights violations, extractivism, and colonization. A clinical psychologist-in-training in the University of the Philippines, they practice as a decolonial, trauma-informed, human rights-based psychosocial security specialist focusing on victim-survivors of political repression. Naro’s writings (poetry/fiction) have been anthologized in Danas (Gantala Press), Busilak: New LGBTQ Poetry from the Philippines, and Tingle: Anthology of Le***an Writing.

Naro’s q***r YA speculative fiction novel centers on community care and courage in a time of enforced disappearances and militarization. It explores how political repression appears in the lives of ordinary people, such as in their emotions and relationships, and psychological journeys.

The Changemaker Authors Cohort is a joint program of Narrative Initiative and the Unicorn Authors Club, partially supported by the Ford Foundation. Twelve movement workers will join us in 2025-26 to develop their book projects with coaching, community, craft support, editing, and participation in our 4-day Camp Unicorn virtual writing retreat.

As climate disasters intensify globally, millions are forced to leave their homes. Migrant justice and climate justice are interconnected and our movements must be, too.

Join us for Narrative Strategy for Climate Migration: Creating Content to Grow Our Audiences and Our Solutions, a webinar with Rinku Sen, Executive Director of Narrative Initiative and Orion Camero, Program Manager, Action lead.

📅 Monday, March 31, 2025

⏰ 1 p.m. EST | 12 p.m. CST | 10 a.m PST

📍 Zoom Webinar - Registration is required

Event description below 👇 RSVP at the link in our bio.

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This session will explore the current narratives at play, identify needs and opportunities, and provide pragmatic guidance for communications and culture projects. We will nurture coordination of our collective power to center human dignity and democracy over disaster capitalism.

Raquel Villagra is a New York-based lawyer working to address the economic harms of systemic discrimination by fighting predatory financial practices and advocating for institutions rooted in cooperation, equity, and sustainability. She provides legal aid to low-income people on financial justice issues, litigates cases targeting harmful corporate and government practices that impact thousands, and organizes groups across New York to push for transformational policies, centering marginalized communities. In law school, she was co-editor-in-chief of the N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change, a publication for social change-oriented scholarship; a Helaine Barnett Fellow with Legal Services Corporation; and a student advocate defending children in juvenile delinquency cases.

Raquel’s book is a contemporary romance following an introverted law student who confronts her fears, finds her voice, and learns about love and the power of women of color to create change along the way.

The Changemaker Authors Cohort is a joint program of Narrative Initiative and the Unicorn Authors Club, partially supported by the Ford Foundation. Twelve movement workers will join us in 2025-26 to develop their book projects with coaching, community, craft support, editing, and participation in our 4-day Camp Unicorn virtual writing retreat. Camp Unicorn is available to you, too! See https://unicornauthors.club/camp-unicorn-2025/ for more info.