Stories don't just entertain us. They shape who we are, what we believe, whose experiences are valued, and what futures we imagine are possible.
Recognizing the power of storytelling to shape culture, In Our Own Voice’s Narrative Power for Justice Initiative is thrilled to partner with Level Forward and Population Media Center on Mother Justice, an innovative short-film initiative exploring the realities, possibilities, and future of Black motherhood in America.
Unlike traditional impact campaigns that begin after a film is completed, Mother Justice integrates narrative strategy into the creative process from the beginning.
As the Narrative Strategy Partner for a designated film, In Our Own Voice is helping ensure the series is grounded in Black women’s lived experiences and informed by what our research tells us audiences are hungry to see: stories that center dignity, complexity, joy, resilience, and possibility. NPJI is contributing its original qualitative and quantitative audience research, narrative insights, reproductive justice expertise, and community engagement throughout development, production, and distribution. Our role includes informing script development, providing narrative guidance rooted in Black women’s lived experiences, activating our national network of state partners, and helping shape community engagement and distribution strategies.
Our collaboration extends beyond filmmaking. As part of the development of Mother Justice, we are engaging reproductive justice leaders to help ensure the work is informed by movement expertise, lived experience, and community vision.
Carmelyn P. Malalis, Senior Vice President of Social Impact at Level Forward, joined Executive Directors from In Our Own Voice during the 2026 Partner Retreat in Los Angeles, California. The gathering provided an opportunity for Reproductive Justice leaders and storytelling partners to exchange ideas and help inform the initiative’s narrative strategy and community engagement.
This collaboration reflects our belief that narrative strategy is not simply messaging—it is infrastructure.
Through the Narrative Power for Justice Initiative, our research identified what we call Narrative Demand: the gap between dominant narratives and the stories Black women say they want and need to see.
Mother Justice responds directly to that demand by centering stories grounded in dignity, complexity, care, joy, resilience, and possibility.
Together with Level Forward and Population Media Center, we are demonstrating a new model for entertainment partnerships—one that brings researchers, community organizations, storytellers, and audiences into conversation before production begins.
Because lasting narrative change doesn’t happen after a story is told. It begins while the story is still being written.
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Calling Filmmakers
Submit a proposal for the Mother Justice short film initiative.
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Partnership Highlights
- Narrative Strategy Partner
- Executive Producer
- Community Engagement Impact strategy
- National Screening Network through Black women-led State Partners
- Audience Research Integration
- Narrative Power Framework application