FACILITATOR TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
StoryCenter is launching a new program: facilitator training for community programs. Trainees will be part of a cohort of community workers implementing digital storytelling as a narrative-based, participatory media process. We welcome participants who will use digital storytelling for collective reflection, to develop leadership skills, amplify voices, and create robust change in the constellation of inequities that challenge economically disadvantaged communities.
The Goal: This project builds capacity for participatory, first-person storytelling. The aim is to activate connections among community members, celebrate joy, and support collective reflection among organizations working towards systemic change.
Training Designed For Individuals Who:
Are affiliated with an organization that will support a digital storytelling workshop (a letter of support is required).
Have completed a digital story through a StoryCenter workshop.
Are committed to narrative agency, strengthening connection and solidarity, and supporting community wellness through digital storytelling workshops.
Have experience with teaching or facilitation.
Are comfortable using technology.
Dates and Format: You will be part of a cohort of facilitators learning about and implementing digital storytelling. Trainees will participate in online meetings starting in early October 2026 and in an in-person workshop from November 9 to 11 in Oakland, CA, and in online meetings from December 2026 to June 2027. The online meetings that follow the in-person component of the workshop are where you will receive support from experienced StoryCenter facilitators and the cohort as you implement a digital storytelling workshop. The in-person component in November will feature a practicum, “workshop inside the workshop,” where the cohort will co-teach a digital storytelling workshop in Oakland.
Program Activities and Dates:
Two to three virtual orientation sessions to build relationships and prepare together (Thursdays - Oct. 22, Oct. 29, and Nov. 5 from 9 am to 11 am PDT).
A mandatory four-day, in-person training in Oakland, CA. We will start with a group dinner on Monday, November 9, at 6 pm and finish on Friday, November 13, at 3 pm.
Six virtual follow-up sessions that provide ongoing support for implementation. The sessions will convene the cohort for peer learning and consultation with StoryCenter staff. Dates TBD.
Four hours of one-on-one support with StoryCenter staff to help implement your workshop.
All follow-up sessions and individual meetings will conclude by August 2027.
Fees and Application Timeline
StoryCenter will notify you of your acceptance into the facilitator training program by July 15. Fees should be paid in full by August 15 to reserve your spot in the program.
Fee - $4,000
Application Requirements:
A letter of support from your organization confirming its commitment to supporting a digital storytelling workshop. You will find more information about the letter in the application.
Participation in a StoryCenter workshop as described in the FAQ.
Please note: no more than two participants per organization will be accepted into this small-group training.
FAQ
Am I responsible for my travel to Oakland?
Yes, you are responsible for travel. Oakland has an easily accessible airport (OAK). It takes approximately 30 minutes to get from the airport to Downtown Oakland using Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). It takes about 1 hour to travel from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Oakland on BART. We will update this page with a link to lodging recommendations by the end of June.
Do I need previous experience with digital storytelling?
The minimum prerequisite for this course is participation in a digital storytelling workshop in which you create a story using the StoryCenter approach. Workshops on our Public Workshops page that fulfill the prerequisite are the Online Digital Storytelling Workshop, the In-Person Digital Storytelling Workshop, and the Participatory Media in the Classroom workshop. Please email andrea@storycenter.org if you have questions about your eligibility for the program.
If you haven’t made a digital story, you can participate if you also register for one of the workshops listed above.
Why do I need a letter of support from the organization that is sponsoring the workshop I will implement?
Convening a workshop requires resource commitment. The organization sponsoring the workshop will need to provide support for recruiting participants. Workshops require space, technology, and food. Depending on the circumstances, workshop storytellers may need stipends for traveling to the workshop, childcare, and to honor their time and the lived experience they are sharing. This training program is designed to support your workshop implementation, and your success depends on your ability to do so in the field.
Should I be employed by the organization I am implementing with?
No. You could also be a volunteer or Board member. For StoryCenter, an important metric of success for this program is our ability to contribute to institutional capacity, and we understand that long-term volunteers are an important part of the capacity of many community organizations.