Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference: Essential Skills for Advocates and Spokespersons

Kirkus Reviews ' Best of 2012

Finalist, USA Best Book Awards 2012

Living Proof is the first comprehensive guide to telling your personal story as an effective advocate for your cause or organization. This easy-to-use handbook gathers all the essentials of ''advocacy storytelling'' into one place--everything you'll need to
- decide what to tell

- present effective and authentic personal storytelling

- give powerful presentations and great media interviews

Living Proof is for
- the mom addressing the school board

- the nonprofit executive director talking to funders

- the social justice advocate appearing on local radio

- the national changemaker interviewed via webcam

- the millions who stand up and speak out every day

Authored by two expert communication trainers, Living Proof contains examples, tools, exercises and worksheets to help prepare speakers at all levels. You can work through the book in a weekend, a week, with a course of study or flip to sections for immediate help with your personal storytelling.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your communication skills to the next level, Living Proof provides the grounding, the confidence and guidance needed to create change with the power of a well-told personal story.

For more information, visit livingproofadvocacy.com.

John Capecci is a trainer, educator, speaker and writer at Capecci Communications (Minneapolis), a firm he founded in 1998. Prior to this, he taught public speaking, communication theory, interpretation of literature and advanced performance courses at Eastern Michigan University, and worked in nonprofit development and marketing for the arts. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in Speech and Theatre, received his M.A. in Communication Studies from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University. He's co-editor of a best-selling series of monologue anthologies, Sixty Seconds to Shine, and has published scholarship on the use of narrative to educate and persuade. John serves on the advisory board for The Soap Factory gallery, volunteers with a number of nonprofits and helps to preserve his historic neighborhood along the banks of the Mississippi. 

Tim Cage conducts media and presentation skills workshops and seminars for the highest levels of senior management and all manner of spokespersons. He launched Timothy Cage Communication Training (New York) in 1993. Previously, Tim was vice president and training manager for Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations and communication agency, and senior associate at an international communications skills training company. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in marketing and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an M.A. in Communication Studies. Tim lectures on public relations and business communication at New York University and has taught communication and interpersonal behavior courses for Cornell University. Tim is a founding member and former chairman of the University of North Carolina's Department of Communication Studies Advisory Board. He also serves on the board of directors for Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity in New York City and is the board's past president.