Linkedin-in Envelope
Contact

AMPLIFY INFLUENCE

Measuring Collective Narrative Change for Housing Advocacy

Location: 

California

Duration: 

2021 – Present
View Case Study

The Challenge

Housing affordability is one of the most pressing social issues in California, yet shifting public perception and policy requires more than traditional advocacy—it demands a powerful, unified narrative. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) launched a cohort of housing advocates to strengthen storytelling and narrative power, but needed an impact measurement approach to assess progress and effectiveness.

OUR APPROACH

I2I served as the MEL partner for CZI’s housing narrative cohort, leading efforts to:

  • Co-create a measurement framework for narrative change strategies
  • Build grantee capacity in impact measurement and storytelling
  • Facilitate annual convenings to foster collaboration and shared learning
  • Develop a real-time data dashboard to track advocacy impact

The IMPACT

  • Created a shared measurement system for tracking narrative shifts across the cohort
  • Strengthened grantee capacity, equipping advocates with tools to measure their influence
  • Enhanced strategic learning, helping CZI refine its narrative change investments
  • Catalyzed policy conversations, linking data insights to legislative efforts

What Makes This Different?

Measuring narrative change is complex. I2I helped bridge the gap between storytelling and data, ensuring that impact measurement was actionable, accessible, and directly useful to advocates on the ground.

Check out a case study about measuring collective narrative change here.

“I2I brings a winning combination of curiosity, rigor, and heart to their work of demystifying all things ‘MEL.’ They took the time to deeply listen to our partners, weaving together various theories of change to co-develop an overarching framework—a Theory of Transformation—that provides our narrative program and individual grantees with a critical tool to measure public and political will for housing reform in California.”

Robert Avruch
Manager, Housing Affordability, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative