SPEAK Vocal Empowerment: Supporting Student Voices for Civic Engagement

The SPEAK Vocal Empowerment Curriculum invites and supports students to empower their voices for self-advocacy and civic participation. It touches upon many aspects of voice—physical, emotional, ethical, psychological, and civic—and supports an increased sense of ownership and confidence in one’s voice and what it expresses. The SPEAK Vocal Empowerment Curriculum utilizes tools developed by theatre performers and voice and speech pathologists for vocal strengthening and expansion of expressive range. The curriculum guides students through a series of vocal exercises, group activities, collaborative skit building and deep reflection. It culminates with a public sharing in which students identify community challenges and creatively propose new solutions. The entire process is sustained by peer support and the joy and wellbeing that comes from empowered self-expression.