Story Cure Seminars
Program at a Glance
Story Cure, also known as Story Cure USA, is our trademarked training program (Reg. No. 5,941,233) with learning plans that range from basic training for everyday use, to professional development for advanced professional use. This program is based on our trademarked and research backed educational materials – which was meticulously developed over an 8-year period by Best Day’s Founder and rigorously field-tested by program partners.
We provide professional development for professionals in ANY field who interact with clients or colleagues from other generations, with a simplified version for college/graduate students getting ready to enter these fields. Our most advanced learning plan is intended for aging services professionals who work with older adults on a more direct daily basis.
We also offer a low-pressure and motivational basic learning plan for general audiences (such as employees in any professional associations or work environments) which is perfect if your group has a mix of experience or comfort levels.
To create a learning plan for your audience, we will first listen to you, to understand the desired educational impact. We will define the educational scope, timeframe and budget. Our plans include a combination of content presentation, role playing and field practice. Educational outcomes are: improved teamwork, productivity and performance. As a result, your organization will transform from the inside out, which directly and visibly improve your brand equity.
Our seminars can take place during your office lunch hour in a Lunch and Learn format, or after work as an Evening Workshop format. We can also create a Seminar Series or full Training Program to help you achieve stronger, deeper transformation. As a followup step, we can also partner with your organization to put on a Story Pop-Up Event so that you can put your new skills to work and engage with your local community in a fun and memorable way.
Instructor Bio
Check out this sample description of a recent lunch-and-learn event that includes an instructor bio and testimonials to learn more about our Founder Benita Cooper’s strength and effectiveness as an instructor:
Benita’s leadership and impact has been recognized with official legislative certificates from two State Senates: the PA Senate, with PA being the state where Best Day began; and the NJ Senate, with NJ being the state where she now lives. The PA Senate says that under her leadership, The Best Day of My Life So Far demonstrates “the highest standards of service” and contributes “in a meaningful way toward a better and more productive society.” The NJ Senate describes her as a “woman of strong character and fortitude” with a “meritorious record of excellence within all the spheres of her life and work.” Benita is also a recent recipient of Philadelphia Business Journal’s prestigious Minority Business Leader Award.
In addition, Benita is often featured in the local and regional press. ABC TV Network, which has spotlighted our organization’s impact through the years with two different program segments, introduced Benita with these words, “We often hear that one person can make a difference. Today we introduce you to one such person.” A conference chair has described Benita’s presentation style as “confident, poised, and enthusiastic,” adding that she “relates so well to both young and older audiences.”
Case Studies
Read about our Story Cure Program in Erie, whose success led to an ongoing, multi-year relationship with LIFE-NWPA.
Additional Program Partners
Program Base Costs
Provided here for general reference; costs for custom plans will be based on scope.
Introductory or Booster Courses
$250/hr with a 1.5-hour minimum, perfect for your next office Lunch and Learn, or a similar lowkey setting, or as a course within your larger conference program
2-Month Strength Training Series
Featuring the Basic Group Starter Curriculum
$3750 – discounted rate for a 2-month training program custom-prepared for your audience. Audience can be a combination of staff and volunteers from 2 different venues. Program will include up to 15 hours of in-depth instruction and support, which can be used for consultation sessions focusing on real-life application. This program also includes (2x) 1-year licenses for trainees to team up and run our Storytelling Group Program (1 license per site, for up to 2 sites.) Please note that proper Storytelling Group licensing and registration is required to use our legally trademarked name, logo and methodology. We offer discounted rates for license renewal to encourage successful sites to continue. Learn more about our Storytelling Group Program.
1-Year Complete Community Transformation Series
Featuring the Complete Group Starter Curriculum
Plus Support by Our Founder and Core Team for a Full Year
$8500 – deeply discounted rate for a powerful, full-year, transformative training program custom-prepared for your audience. Audience can be a combination of staff and volunteers from an unlimited number of venues. This is a perfect setup for a larger parent network that operate multiple venues. Program will include up to 50 hours of in-depth instruction and support, which can be used for consultation sessions focusing on real-life application. This program also includes (5x) 1-year licenses for trainees to team up and run our Storytelling Group Program (1 license per site, for up to 5 sites.) Please note that proper Storytelling Group licensing and registration is required to use our legally trademarked name, logo and methodology. We offer discounted rates for license renewal to encourage successful sites to continue. Learn more about our Storytelling Group Program.
Format and Travel Costs
We can choose the right presentation format to suit your needs. We are equally experienced and confident in zoom, in-person or hybrid formats.
Travel by Best Day personnel beyond Center City Philadelphia and South Jersey are not included in the listed program fees, and will be invoiced as additional requests for reimbursements. Choosing zoom is one way to save on travel expenses.
What’s Included?
Our full Story Cure Program lasts 2-month duration or beyond, to create deep, strong, sustainable impact. The content and timeframe is customized to the exact audience’s exact needs. The content typically weaves together online and in-person training modules with field practice activities, and ends with a live grand finale community event. The following describes a typical program flow, but we can always prioritize or de-emphasize some of these elements depending on your audience’s interests and preferred learning style.
Participants are initially engaged in two 90-minute seminars/webinars that introduce them to and teach them how to utilize the suite of tools found in Best Day’s Digital Toolbox that will help them to increase their ability to meaningfully engage with older adults and start an intergenerational storytelling group.
The trademarked Digital Toolbox includes the Conversation Starter Kit and Group Starter Kit. Within these kits, participants will find a variety of content guides (e.g., Conversation Starter Guide, Group Startup Guide, Best Day Spirit Guide, Facilitator Training Guide, Supervisor Training Guide) and forms (e.g., Story Listening Checklist, Easy Story Submission Form, Complete Story and Health Tracker, Older Adult Self-Submission Form, Story Collection Creator Form). Best Day will customize a specific suite of tools for each audience, and provide access to them following the webinars. The webinars are recorded and archived to allow staff who are not able to attend the webinar to access at their convenience.
Following the seminars/webinars, participants are encouraged, through simple field practice activities and reporting tools, to integrate what they have learned their everyday work with older generations and/or utilizing them to launch Best Day Storytelling Groups over a 2-month period. During this period of time, Best Day provides a Program Manager to participants to answer any questions by email, phone or videochat, and troubleshoot any issues as they arise. Participants report that this Story Cure program enriches intergenerational communication within 1-2 conversations, transforms professional interaction with older adults within 2 weeks, and produces visible signs of improved health within 3-4 weeks.
This program concludes with a public intergenerational event, which weaves together inspirational story readings, participant testimonials, interactive storytelling activities, and award/certificate presentation to care professionals who have successfully completed the training and performed the fieldwork.
What Is Included?: Limited-Scope Structure
Elements of the Full Structure will be repackaged into the alloted time. Each seminar will be customized to your needs.
Who Can Apply?
Activity directors or community engagement directors of any company or department or large group.
Timing
Flexible, based on scope, intent and funding.
Participants
The participants of this program are defined as the trainees.
Number Of Lives Changed
We have done physical seminars for 25 to 400 trainees. We have done virtual webinars that are attended by 25-100 trainees and broadcast to hundreds more viewers. Each trainee then has the power to impact additional lives with the learned skills, including techniques for starting a Storytelling Group. The number of lives they can change is explained on our Storytelling Groups Program Page.
Check out more Programs
Grand Camp Youth Leadership Academy
This teen-led, four-week program empowers students to connect with local older adults, fostering active listening and essential communication skills for future leadership.
Social Connection Work Group
A collaborative gathering of cross-disciplinary professionals committed to advancing social connection, where ideas are processed, innovative solutions are born, and real-life implementation thrives.
Story Pop-Up
Events
Powerful, engaging, locally focused storytelling events and event series custom-designed for each community.
Storytelling Groups
Our AARP-endorsed trademarked program, backed by research, rapidly reduces older adult isolation and enhances health and purpose.