Youth Speaks creates safe spaces to empower the next generation of leaders, self-defined artists and visionary activists through written and oral literacies. We challenge youth to find, develop, publicly present, and apply their voices as creators of societal change. Founded in 1996, Youth Speaks is a multi-faceted organization that believes that the power, insight, creativity and passion of young people can change the world. In addition to a wide variety of arts education, youth development and civic engagement programs that serve thousands each year in the Bay Area, we are the founders of Brave New Voices, an annual event and national network of young poets and youth development organizations, and the Emerging Arts fellows Program which prepares fellows for leadership and artistic opportunities in the performing arts field.