Become a Life Story Café Facilitator
Help older adults share the stories behind their photos — in their own voice, at their own pace.
We're looking for warm, reliable people who can create safe, respectful spaces for older adults to revisit and share their memories. If you have a gift for listening, a respect for life experience, and comfort with simple technology, we'd love to hear from you.
Joanne Swensrude
Lead facilitator & program partner
For more than 35 years, Joanne Swensrude has been helping people connect, learn, and share their experiences through engaging group programs and workshops. As a Life Story Café Facilitator with Voiced Memories, she creates welcoming, interactive environments where participants feel comfortable sharing the stories that have shaped their lives.
Joanne is available for one-to-one and group onboarding sessions — helping individuals, families, and care teams get started with the Voiced Memories platform with confidence and ease.
Known for her warmth, patience, and sense of fun, Joanne helps spark conversations that often lead to laughter, reflection, and meaningful connections. She believes everyone has a story worth telling and is passionate about helping participants preserve those stories for future generations through the Voiced Memories platform.
- Life Story Café Facilitator
- Technology Educator
- Community Connector
- 35+ Years Experience
Karen Murdock
Founder & creator
Karen Murdock has spent years watching what happens when an older adult sees a familiar photo and someone leans in to listen — stories pour out, laughter follows, and connections form that didn't exist five minutes before. That simple moment is what she built Voiced Memories around.
As founder of Voiced Memories and a Life Story Café facilitator, Karen creates sessions that feel less like a program and more like a good conversation that happened to be beautifully set up. Guided prompts, a curated photo gallery, and a warm, unhurried pace give participants everything they need to find each other through memory.
Karen believes the stories older adults carry deserve to be heard — and that the right environment makes sharing them feel like a gift, not a task.
- Founder, Voiced Memories
- Creator of the Life Story Café
- Life Story Café Facilitator
Our approach
Start with personal photos
Photos help open the door to memories, conversation, and connection.
Support voice and story
Older adults are guided to record their own stories, in their own voice, at their own pace.
Build meaningful engagement
The completed memory albums can support Life Story Cafés, family connection, recreation programming, and wellness-focused engagement.
Join our team
We're looking for facilitators who believe every story is worth telling.
No formal credentials required. If you're warm, community-minded, and passionate about older adults — we'll train you for everything else.
Who we're looking for
- Experience working with, supporting, or volunteering with older adults
- Strong listening and conversational skills
- Emotional maturity and sensitivity
- Commitment to dignity, respect, and inclusion
- Comfort with basic technology (tablets, laptops, audio recording)
- Ability to facilitate small groups and encourage participation without pressure
- Reliable, prepared, and professional
- Respect for privacy and confidentiality
Nice to have
- Background in recreation, healthcare, education, libraries, faith communities, or senior services
- Dementia awareness or grief sensitivity
- Facilitation, storytelling, or group leadership experience
- Multilingual ability
- Experience supporting caregivers or families
What facilitators do
Welcome participants
Create a comfortable environment where everyone feels at ease.
Guide conversations
Lead small group conversations using personal photos and gentle prompts.
Hold space for memories
Help older adults share their stories safely and respectfully.
Support the platform
Help participants use the Voiced Memories platform with confidence.
Protect privacy
Honour confidentiality around personal photos and stories.
Represent Voiced Memories
Bring warmth, care, and professionalism to every session.
Facilitator application
A few questions to help us get to know you.