Speak Up!

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Speak Up! Speeches by young people to empower and inspire is a joyful celebration of 45 speeches by children and teenagers who have stood up for causes they passionately believe in and challenged adults in power to take note. This collection is testament to the hopefulness and spirit of the next generation, and the positive belief that we can, and should, act to protect the things we love.
 
From ground-breaking scientific inventions to pleas for the environment, anti-war speeches to incredible testimony of lived experiences, the speeches collected here demonstrate the profound wisdom of youth and why it is important to speak up and out on what concerns us.

‘A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its own lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death.’ 
- Kofi Annan
 

Resources for kids, parents, and educators:

Adora introduces Speak Up! and reads excerpt:
Discussion questions to consider:
1. Some of the young people profiled in this book have pursued social change through working within existing systems (e.g., writing to legislators, developing new technologies and selling them, etc.); others advocate radically changing those systems (e.g., through mass protest, changing our economies, etc.)
  • What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches?
  • Which tactics appeal to you?
  • Are there ways to learn from both?

2. Many of the speakers in the book, like Memory Banda, Amika George, and Malala Yousafzai speak about issues relating to gender equality.
  • How does gender impact the opportunities that are available to young people around the world?
  • What are gender roles and gender stereotypes? (Resource)

3. Speakers who invented life-saving tools, developed important apps, and gave others the opportunity to learn more about tech show that used thoughtfully, technology can be a force for good.
  • How can you use technology to solve problems that impact your family, friends, or community members?
  • What are some ways you're already using technology to help others?

4. A word you'll see in many of the speeches in Speak Up! is "representation."
  • What does representation mean to you, and why does it matter?
  • Can you think of examples of media (movies, TV, books, comics, etc.) featuring characters who remind you of an aspect of your own identity?
  • What identities do you think are missing or under-represented?

5. What are some of the causes that are most important to you, and why? What concrete steps can you take to contribute?

Selected links to speeches:
Mario Savio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yew51uYHYV4
Severn Cullis-Suzuki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJGuIZVfLM
Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KgPE--WiN8
Jack Andraka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqcf5ZQ8zIw
Amika George: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhWK46sKeIo
Madison Kimrey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CRSK0HItoI