Youth Speaks alumni include an Obama speechwriter, the founder of a Black-owned media tech company, and the youngest inaugural Poet […more…]
“It’s not the thoughts or the prayers.It’s the actionsIt’s how we stared down the barrel. Stared untilthe barrel lowered until […more…]
Co-founder of the only tech news website for Black millennials; head writer for Disney+’s upcoming superhero series starring a Black […more…]
Youth Speaks
www.youthspeaks.org
415-255-9035
Executive Director: Michelle “Mush” Lee
Mission
We create spaces that challenge youth to amplify their voices as creators of societal change.
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s Director of Development and/or Executive Director.
I found Youth Speaks at age 15 and it contributed to my life in more ways than I could count or repay. Youth Speaks gave me a community of young artists, the performance opportunities of my dreams – the world’s best mentors and a toolkit for cultural change. Youth Speaks taught me creative career-building skills, confidence, and self-worth as a young person. I stayed at Youth Speaks until I was 23, when I began to travel as a full-time musician.
The Impact of Youth Voices: A New Generation of Public Poets Move Toward Civic Light
Youth Speaks’ Public Poets Fellowship is a new, innovative year-long narrative change and public speaking program for youth/young adults. The program is currently in Beta launch.
“I want to create art at Youth Speaks that contributes to making the kind of change so that no poet will have to write the poems I do,” says Youth Speaks alumni. “That’s the driving motivation of Public Poets.”
The Fellowship, which provides stipends of between $15,000 to $25,000 to each participant, will allow fellows to amplify their voices to be creators and leaders of change. $260,000 is needed by December to add up to four more fellowship seats (for a total of eight this year), while also building out key internal infrastructure.
Key Supporters
San Francisco Department
of Children, Youth & Their Families
William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Battery Powered
(The Battery Club)
Barbara and Amos Hostetter
Lemonade, Inc.
Mayor’s Office of Housing
and Community Development,
City of San Francisco
The John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation
California Arts Council
Crankstart
National Endowment for the Arts
Governor’s Office of Community
Partnerships and Strategic
Communications
The Hearst Foundation
Foundry10
Acton Family Giving
Hellman Foundation
Jenny Fan Raj and Nehal Raj
Golden State Warriors
Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Poetry Foundation