Cultural Strategy in Action: Culture Shift 101 Brings Memphis Creatives Together to Turn Story Into Movement
Memphis residents gathered at the National Civil Rights Museum for Culture Shift 101, an interactive workshop that explored how storytelling can influence culture, shift beliefs, and inspire meaningful change in communities.
Anasa Troutman and Bertram Williams, Jr. enjoying a fireside chat during Culture Shift 101
Hosted as part of In This Place 2026: This is Memphis, a citywide season of culture, community, and capital powered by The Big We, the evening invited participants to step into the role of cultural strategist and learn how personal stories can become catalysts for larger social and cultural movements.
Led by Anasa Troutman, CEO of The Big We and a nationally recognized cultural strategist, the session unpacked how ideas move through communities and ultimately shape what people believe, build, and repeat.
“Your love for something and your hopes for something can coexist,” Troutman shared during the session, speaking about Memphis and the power of creatives to shape its future. “Even places that sometimes are very painful can still bring very deep love and commitment.”
Culture Shift 101 combined conversation, learning, and hands-on practice. Participants explored how narratives influence connection, decision making, and collective imagination, then worked together in small groups to apply the concepts to real-life scenarios facing their communities.
The workshop also featured a fireside conversation with Bertram Williams, Jr., Memphis actor known for his role on P-Valley and an ecostrategist whose work bridges storytelling, community, and creative practice. Williams spoke about how narrative shows up in both his artistic work and his commitment to Memphis, encouraging participants to recognize the power of their own lived experiences as a source of influence and change.
Throughout the evening, attendees reflected on the possibilities that emerge when people come together to think intentionally about culture and storytelling. One participant shared that the workshop affirmed their belief in approaching Memphis from a place of love and vision.
Culture Shift 101 attendees documenting their thoughts during the workshop session
“This session helped galvanize that thought that I'm not off base to think about the city in a way that comes from love,” they said. “It gave me more confidence to have conversations with people who can move the needle.”
Another attendee described how the collaborative exercises sparked new ideas for addressing issues they care about. “I was inspired by the two women in my group,” they said. “It unlocked new ways to tell stories about things I’ve been concerned about for a long time.”
For many in the room, the experience also felt deeply emotional and timely.
“In this moment I’m processing an immense level of gratitude for being in this space,” one attendee shared. “We need this so severe right now, and we are actually doing it.”
Culture Shift 101 reflects The Big We’s larger approach to cultural strategy: helping communities understand how values shape culture and how culture ultimately shapes policy, behavior, and the future of a place. By creating space for learning, reflection, and collaboration, the workshop demonstrated how storytelling can move beyond individual expression and become a tool for collective transformation.
The gathering is part of In This Place, an annual season rooted in the spirit of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike, when workers organized from Historic Clayborn Temple and gave the world the enduring message: “I AM A MAN.” Through events like Community Sing, Culture Shift 101, and others throughout the season, The Big We invites Memphians to connect, learn, and imagine new possibilities for the city together.
In This Place: This is Memphis continues through April 16th. All In This Place events are free and can be reserved here. Stay up-to-date on Historic Clayborn Temple news by following us on social media. To donate to Clayborn Temple’s programming, click here. To learn more about Clayborn’s rebuilding and reimagining efforts, click here.