Our Vision
We envision a world where everyone is liberated because everyone is cared for. There are no physical, political, or financial barriers that prevent people from pursuing their passions, cultivating community, and protecting our planet.
We feel safe.
We feel powerful.
We feel loved.
By listening to people proximate to injustice — Black and Brown, resource-constrained, disabled, queer, and others directly impacted by oppression. They are best equipped to dream up and share alternatives to the status quo.
Too many schools maintain the status quo by silencing those oppressed by it. Youth in low-income schools, for instance, have less access to high-quality civics education than their peers (read this).
What is Vocal Justice doing about it?
We cultivate learning conditions for youth that strengthen their community, critical consciousness, and communication skills.
Our work positions youth to share stories that advance liberation — speaking at school board meetings about how to revamp education, leading rallies for climate justice, pushing for equitable hiring practices, and more.
What makes Vocal Justice unique?
We prioritize students who are not “high achieving” by traditional academic standards. Good leaders aren’t just “good” students.
We also encourage youth to communicate with integrity. Traditional communication programs implicitly suggest that the right way to speak is the “white way” — following the dominant culture when it comes to tone, vocabulary, and gestures. We promote authentic expression.
