In Part Two – Strategies for Reaching the Middle, we identify specific narrative strategies that align with the Moveable Middle’s values and encourage greater support for immigrant communities. Through key storytelling approaches, this report offers actionable strategies for creating compelling content that fosters empathy and promotes belonging for immigrants.

Part 2 – Strategies for Reaching the Middle

In Part 1, we identified the audiences. In Part 2, we provide a roadmap for crafting actionable strategies across mediums that align with the audiences’ values, fostering meaningful engagement and promoting deeper support of immigrant communities.

• Immigrant Storytellers as Messengers: Stories told by immigrants themselves resonate deeply, creating relatable and credible narratives that break down stereotypes and build emotional resonance.
• Leveraging Allies: Allies can effectively tell immigrant stories by amplifying authentic immigrant voices and aligning storylines with their audience’s values. It is essential to avoid portrayals that reduce immigrants to passive characters in an ally’s story.
• Culture-First Stories: Narratives centered on shared human experiences, such as food, sports, or comedy, are more effective than overtly political or policy-driven content. These stories foster a sense of collective identity without triggering defensiveness.
• Using a Cast of Characters: A diverse cast of characters helps audiences to see multiple perspectives and avoid monolithic portrayals of immigrants. This approach highlights both individual and collective contributions while dismantling stereotypes like the “Good Immigrant” trope.
• Balancing Explicit and Implicit Messaging: Explicit mentions of immigration status move audiences more than implicit references. However, subtly integrating immigrant experiences into broader storylines resonates well with these audiences, who are hesitant about overt political content.
• Positive Endings for Undocumented Stories: Narratives that mention undocumented status are most effective when they conclude positively, fostering empathy and reducing defensiveness. By contrast, neutral or uncertain endings risk reinforcing biases or fostering indifference, potentially alienating the audience.

‍