Youth Speak Out International
We Are Youth Speak Out International!
Youth Speak Out International is a 501C3 organization that helps students become aware of the choices they can make in self-exploration by using their own interpretation and evaluation of the world around them. Our mission is to empower youth within culturally diverse communities to express their thoughts while creating independence through advocacy and equality in order to create positive global change.
We promote media literacy as a key means of countering media stereotyping. This approach encourages openness with objectivity, fosters tolerance, understanding and respect in today's youth.
Youth Speak Out International has effectively educated over 3600 multi-cultural youth in South Florida, Belize and Jamaica. Our innovative hands on curriculum delivers creative instruction that fosters critical thinking, self-exploration, public speaking and media production. Our program’s unique and creative approach in combining media education with media creation gives students the opportunity to create positive change in their local and global communities.
Creating Community Aware
Creating the Community Aware (CCA) is a program that enhances local history education and video production. This project empowers students to discover and document their local history through creative writing and documentary filmmaking. To date, CCA has educated more than 680 students. The diversity of this project provides a platform for understanding local architecture, documenting oral histories, conducting local interviews with historical persons, community members and peers. This discovery takes learning from within the classroom into the surrounding multi-cultural communities.
Jamaica On The Rise
Testimonials:
Testimonials:
"Your media literacy program fits into our mission to support The School District of Palm Beach County by helping students to understand the media and develop critical thinking skills. The most amazing part of your program is that the students themselves create their own media projects, allowing them to explore and interpret the world around them as they see it."
Station Manager, The Education Television Network, Florida, USA
"This documentary film project touched my heart. It taught me more about the Jamaican culture. It showed me that we need to live by our moto, “Out of many one people.” The film we created has a very powerful message that needs to be heard around the world.
Media Literacy Student (17 years old), SouthSide, Jamaica"
"The Urban League of Palm Beach County collaborates with this institution of learning to ensure our under served youth have the opportunity to experience the world of media and understand its direct impact. This organization is a testament to the understanding of and sensitivity to the complexity of today's challenges within youth culture. Their organization is well versed in the area of cultural competency."
Director of Youth Development, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
"Because of your media literacy classes, I now use my voice to speakout on issues in my neighborhood. I'm a leader not a follower."
Media Literacy Student (14 years old), Belle Glade, Florida, USA
"I have seen first hand that all the students enrolled with Youth Speak Out International's programs have a positive experience to remember for the rest of their lives. Each student gets a chance to have their voices herd and understand how their opinion matters. This makes all the difference in the world.
Director of Programming WXEL, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA"
"The community forum in SouthSide, Jamaica gave me the chance to feel like I did something wonderful for my community. The (Q&A) questions and answers gave me the chance to speak my mind and hear what the community had to say about our project, "Jamaica on the Rise". I know have the power to speak what is on my mind. I'm eternally grateful."
Media Literacy Student, SouthSide, Jamaica
"Front Porch Florida has collaborated with Youth Speak Out International to bring media literacy, life skills and self empowerment programs into our neighborhood. Our organization feels it is crucial for our youth to have this type of hands-on program because we live in a media driven society."
Program Director, Front Porch Florida, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
YSO TV
Youth Speak Out Television (YSO TV) is a program that enhances media literacy and educational video production. This community youth enrichment program includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and also provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate and create effective messages in a variety of forms. Youth Speak Out Television builds an understanding of the role media plays in today’s society. Focus is on the comprehension of the essential skills of inquiry along with self-exploration. To date, YSO TV has educated more than 600 students. Participating youth effectively create multicultural educational television segments based on their own understandings of their culture and community.
