Summary
Organization name
Project VOYCE
2006
Tax id (EIN)
81-4091419
Category
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
2900 Downing St. #1BDenver, CO 80205
Denver County, CO, US
Why We do What We do
When young people in historically oppressed communities are looking for truth, power, and collective liberation---they come to Project VOYCE. We create spaces with youth that promote critical thought learning and explorations of power and social justice. We provide the language, knowledge, and tools to ensure that the emerging majority are not afraid to confront, listen, see the world unveiled, and reimagine new possibilities for the future. We have confidence in our youth’s ability to think, to want, and to know, and we help them build confidence and trust in themselves.
Before the emerging majority can dismantle systems of oppression, they must learn how those systems were designed, how they function, and how we feed their existence knowingly and unknowingly. We cannot “fix” systems that work as they were designed to work but we can imagine and create new systems when we have diverse leaders who see beyond what they have been “programmed” to see.
Testimonials
"Project VOYCE for me has been a great opportunity to grow and gain new experiences." - Youth Leader
"Coming into PV, I was aware, but I did not have the platform and vocabulary to address the issues. I think now I feel obligated and willing to educate others with my knowledge." - Youth Leader
"Oftentimes, I point to Project VOYCE as an example. I have partnered with Project VOYCE leaders when in need of facilitators for a convening of youth and sought out their input when seeking youth perspectives. I highly recommend Project VOYCE as a partner to any school, organization, or group looking to engage youth in an authentic and real way. " - Joey Pace, Youth Success Director, Office of Children's Affairs
"I feel extremely privileged to have Project VOYCE working within my school. I will continue to use strategies developed by the Project VOYCE students. The process of working with my students this year has been the most rewarding experience of my teaching practice thus far, and I feel fortunate to have found them so early in my career. " - Denver Public School teacher, Bruce Randolph School
Mission
Project VOYCE partners with youth to develop transformative youth leaders who are engaged equitably in their own development and the development of their communities.
We envision a world in which Black, Indigenous, and young people of color are equitable partners in achieving collective healing and liberation.
Background Statement
The temporary closure of Manual High School in 2006 disrupted and displaced the education and lives of hundreds primarily black and brown youth who had been traditionally underserved in Denver Public Schools. Determined to ensure that youth had a platform to change the systems that directly impacted them and live our motto “nothing about us, without us,” two Manual alumni, a former teacher and the founder of YouthBiz, launched Project VOYCE.
When young people in historically oppressed communities are looking for truth, power, and collective liberation-- they come to Project VOYCE. We create spaces with youth that promote critical thought learning and explorations of power and social justice. We provide the language, knowledge, and tools to ensure that the emerging majority are not afraid to confront, listen, see the world unveiled, and reimagine new possibilities for the future. We have confidence in our youth’s ability to think, to want, and to know and we help them build confidence and trust in themselves.
Before the emerging majority can dismantle systems of oppression, they must learn how those systems were designed, how they function, and how we feed their existence knowingly and unknowingly. We cannot “fix” systems that work as they were designed to work but we can imagine and create new systems when we have diverse leaders who see beyond what they have been “programmed” to see.
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Organization Data
Denver, CO 80205