Youth Speaks (San Francisco)

Youth Speaks is building the next generation of leaders through the written and spoken word. Our innovative programs nurture and develop the youth voice and promote positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class, gender, culture, and sexual orientation. We encourage youth to find their own avenues toward creative self-expression, and embrace the collaborative nature of group dynamics and peer-to-peer education. By coupling public performance and publication opportunities with educational workshops, mentoring programs, and cooperative learning, Youth Speaks is committed to creating spaces that celebrate the youth voice and its essential role in the literary continuum. Throughout each facet of the organization, Youth Speaks encourages active literacy, honest writing, and critical thought.