Real Stories.

New Connections.

Stronger Communities.

Living Proof Stories is a San Diego-born initiative reclaiming the art of human connection. As we spend more time staring at phones and becoming part of the algorithm, our lived experience is our most vital resource. In a world of digital noise, a single, honest story is the most powerful bridge between two people.

By blending professional storytelling workshops with high-impact community showcases, we turn personal truth into collective strength. Every partnership we build in the professional sector directly fuels our mission to provide free programming across the county, so every voice in our vibrant coastal community has the platform to be heard and the power to connect.

By elevating individual voices and celebrating shared experiences, we help organizations and residents alike build empathy and understanding for a more resilient, tightly-knit community.

Let’s Hear Your Story.

Workshops, Mentoring, and Ghostwriting

Whether you are a nonprofit fundraiser needing to move donors to action, a veteran processing a journey of service, or just someone ready to get that a story from the back of your brain onto the page, these sessions help you build a story that doesn't just inform, but truly connects.

Through a group workshop, 1:1 mentoring, or creating your memoir together, we’ll strip away the polish in favor of presence for an impactful, authentic message ready for the stage or the page—your legacy, expertly told.

Community Programs: The Heart of Living Proof Stories

We believe storytelling is a public service. Our community programs offer a two-part journey toward connection: it begins with a free workshop—a guided space for neighbors to find their narrative spark—and culminates in a Nonfiction Storytelling Showcase.

These events are completely free for participants, designed to bridge the gaps between us through the power of shared truth. By partnering with local San Diego venues, donors, and forward-thinking businesses, we turn neighborhood spaces into stages for human connection. When you sponsor a showcase, you aren't just funding an event; you are investing in the social fabric of our city and ensuring every voice has a place to be heard.

Corporate Offerings: Ditch the Keynote

Replace traditional, one-way keynotes with a multi-voice showcase featuring your own conference attendees—industry peers take the stage to deliver vulnerable, high-impact narratives that provide living proof of your organization’s mission.

This format is a powerful catalyst for inspiration and is especially effective for mission-driven organizations in healthcare, equity, and biotech. It transforms abstract data into human reality, leaving donors motivated to give and employees inspired to lead.

Whether you’ve never written anything or you’re a seasoned presenter, we can guide you towards memorable storytelling through 1:1 mentorship, group feedback, and reliable coaching.

Contact Us

  • "Brandy is a thoughtful, collaborative, and highly professional teaching artist who brings both structure and genuine care to her work...she brings a rare combination of intentionality and deep commitment to the people she serves. In our collaboration with ASAP, she consistently creates a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive space where participants feel safe to share their stories, show up as themselves, and connect with one another. Her ability to foster meaningful connection through storytelling doesn’t just build skills, it builds real community. Brandy is truly someone you want in your corner as a partner and facilitator."

    Danny Bahena USAF Security Forces Veteran; Program Manager, Armed Services Arts Partnership

  • "If you want someone to help you become a better storyteller, connect with Brandy. Everyone at the workshop learned something, wrote something, and had a much better understanding of their storytelling capabilities. I'm working on a memoir, and this workshop brought such clarity on structure for this project. I cannot say enough about this woman. Make sure you sign up for what she has to offer, because she's incredible."

    Lisane Basquiat Founder, Shaping Freedom; Co-Administrator, The Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate

  • "Brandy is the finest copy and developmental editor I've had the pleasure of working with. She has edited all three of my published story collections--Alterations (Quilt Square Press), Poachers and Pills (Cowboy Jamboree Press) and A Good Man Goes South (Anxiety Press) as well as my forthcoming novel Grit Before Grace (late summer 2026, Cowboy Jamboree). She has also edited over 50 of my other published short stories. Like the best editors, she catches all my typos, makes helpful and thoughtful editorial suggestions and is always true to my vision as a writer. She understands what I am trying to do with a given piece and never imposes her own creative vision on the work...I recommend her highly and with zero reservations!"

    JD Clapp author

Let’s Meet!

Hi! My name is Brandy Dykhuizen. For over 20 years, I’ve written and edited at the intersection of language, science, and the humanities. My career began in the Med Schools of public universities and at biotechs, where I learned that even the most complex data is meaningless without a human narrative to anchor it. During that time, I worked as a ghostwriter and online textbook developer on the side, creating dozens of published memoirs and educational modules.

In the last few years, my focus shifted toward nonprofit leadership, where I witnessed firsthand how storytelling can bridge the gap between a mission and its community. That path enabled me to mentor hundreds of storytellers and produce dozens of live storytelling showcases across Southern California.

Today, I serve as a Board Member of the San Diego Art Directory as their Chief Operating Officer and as the Lead Storytelling Instructor for the San Diego chapter of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), where I help veterans and military families find their voices through workshops and performance.

I founded Living Proof Stories to help weave together the incredibly diverse tapestry of San Diego through storytelling. Whether I am coaching a biotech executive for a keynote showcase or mentoring a neighbor through their first "Start Your Story" workshop, my goal remains the same: to share real stories, build new connections, and create stronger communities through empathy and inclusion.

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