At Youth Speaks, the voices of youth matter. Committed to a critical, youth-centered pedagogy, Youth Speaks places students in control over their intellectual and artistic development. We are urgently driven by the belief that literacy is a need, not a want, and that literacy comes in various forms.

Youth Speaks believes that having knowledge, practice, and confidence in the written and spoken language is essential to the self-empowerment of an individual. If young people are not given the proper opportunities to become literate, in all of its many manifestations, and are not provided with an active network of support services, it is very likely that they will not attain personal, educational and professional achievement, and therefore risk being left behind.

Youth Speaks fills a need for creative approaches to literary arts education and literacy in general; we believe it is crucial to provide spaces where youth can undergo a process of personal growth and transformation in a program that enriches their educational, professional and leadership skills.

As we more deeply move into the 21st Century, oral poetry is helping to define the American Voice in literature. Within the ever-growing community of spoken word, young writers are helping to evolve the aesthetic at a rapid rate in thriving public platforms that are pluralistic and progressive. Youth Speaks argues for a concrete and ethical understanding of writing, one that requires response, action, and performance. We aim to build structure around multicultural and class discourse, so as to unveil deeper levels of literacy. By making the connection between poetry, spoken word, and classroom settings, Youth Speaks provides teenagers with opportunities to develop their knowledge, practice, and confidence in their own language skills, leading them on a course to attain educational and professional achievement, and become leaders in their schools and communities.

Youth Speaks Educational Philosophy
Every time a thought is put into words, it is a creative act (thus the term, language arts). The same way a student recognizes and is able to practice visual arts by learning images, drawing, painting, and/or sculpting, a person’s language skills expand the more s/he communicates ideas, problems, feelings, and solutions.

Committed to a critical, youth-centered pedagogy, Youth Speaks places students in control over their intellectual and artistic development. We at Youth Speaks view literacy development as an active process as opposed to a passive acquisition of skills and knowledge. Youth Speaks’ Poet Mentors facilitate ‘real’ experiences with writing, reading, speaking, listening, and thinking.

Youth Speaks aims to deconstruct dominant narratives in hopes of achieving a more inclusive learning experience. Youth Speaks views creativity as an inclusive and innate attribute that all youth possess. Rather than developing a craft, Youth Speaks offers teens the ability to freely explore their voice until their search for identity feels natural.

Genuine investment in one’s future begins the moment an individual is convinced s/he possess a sense of empowerment. Embodied in the Youth Speaks philosophy is a respect for youth, as well as a continued dedication to their intellectual, personal, and artistic development.

Youth Speaks Poet Mentors serve as part of a classroom discourse, offering support and encouragement. By sharing their own works, as well as providing constructive feedback for youth, mentors offer narrative and expository texts that are written in their original and natural language. Contemporary and intergenerational readings bring together youth and adults to validate authentic expression and to strengthen a literary continuum. By expressing their thoughts with peers and mentors, students collectively transform the classroom from a site of teacher-centered instruction to a community that promotes student-centered thought and dialogue.

Traditional classroom-settings embody a narrative-like character where little decision-making relies on the concerns and perspective of students in the class. Even in a ‘democratic’ class setting, youth may not always feel comfortable exercising their right to speak up or be heard, especially when giving voice to thoughts, ideas, or beliefs that are unpopular. This may leave students feeling alienated and/or discouraged from participating in class. Because traditional educational pedagogy provides nominal opportunities for instructors to validate student perspective, students ultimately assume the role of passive recipients in their own education.

We at Youth Speaks seek to create a safe space where youth feel confident sharing their voice and individual perspective. More importantly, Youth Speaks encourages youth to express themselves using their own vernacular. The idea of “talent” or being “talented” is often viewed as a mysterious force bestowed on a given individual, rather than the result of hard work, practice, and commitment.