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Narrative Power

“You become a number, you become invisible, you become less than human….we as the experts, the individuals who have lived experience, need to begin those conversations and tell our story in a way that brings support but also creates the visual so that you see me and not what you want to see but what I bring to you…we are powerful and strong women, and we have a voice, and society creates barriers to keep us from raising our voice but we are stronger than that, we are more resilient than that.”

– Russelle “Rusti” Miller-Hill (1961-2020)

Transforming our criminal legal system requires changing laws and policies, shifting power, and reshaping culture and the dehumanizing narratives that the system relies on. We believe that transformation also requires going beyond just changing narratives – it requires changing who has the power to create and control those narratives in the first place.

We call this narrative power, and we define it as the power to:

  1.  Shape narratives about a specific issue and a larger worldview, particularly through engaging your lived experience
  2.  Define your own narrative and control all decisions about it, including when, how, and by whom it is shared
  3.  Carry out narrative work in ways that are healing, transformative, and deeply connected to community

These elements make narrative power different than narrative advocacy, which usually means using your story to advocate for a particular issue.

For more on the critical importance of narrative, read “The Resilience of the Written Off: Women in Prison as Women of Change” by Kathy Boudin (posted with permission from the Women’s Rights Law Reporter and the author).

Artist/activist Shea Diamond preparing for an interview with SELF magazine (May 2017)

Jess jackson

Executive Director

Jess Jackson is a dynamic and creative professional with expertise in operations, program planning, organizing, and arts-based advocacy, committed to driving meaningful social change by cultivating highly functional organizations and innovative programming. To all aspects of her career, Jess brings a lifelong passion for the arts and a deep commitment to social justice. In summer 2026, Jess became Executive Director of WJP, leading the organization’s strategy, development, programs and partnerships. For 7 years prior, Jess served as WJP Director of Operations & Arts Advocacy, spearheading operations efforts and leading arts-based and culture change initiatives including creative arts programming at two New York women’s prisons. Prior to joining WJP, Jess worked in sales, business management, and arts administration with organizations including Marriott, Google, and the School of Visual Arts. She is known for developing highly impactful initiatives and programs for organizations looking to carry out their work in ways that are more effective, capacious, and values aligned. With a versatile skillset spanning operations, strategy, program planning, organizing, creative project management, and events, Jess brings an interdisciplinary flair to her work, and a dedication to advancing the brilliant work and vision of WJP’s staff and partners. Jess holds a BA from the University of Michigan, lives in Brooklyn with her family, and in her spare time enjoys volunteering with Narrows Botanical Gardens, traveling, reading, writing, and leaning into her creative pursuits.