The SPEAK! Leadership Awards (SLA) is the only awards program that recognizes teenage readers and leaders across the country for accomplishments in dialogue facilitation. SPEAK! Award Winners leverage the combined power of stories and conversation as a force for positive social change in their schools and communities.
Join The CommunityWe need to talk. As Cat, one of our SPEAK! certification graduates, shared with us, “Right now, what we’re lacking in society is the ability to listen to each other.” We need a new kind of leader, one who believes that skills in empathy and dialogue are not just "nice to have," but are absolutely necessary for great leadership in a rapidly changing world. We need a new kind of leader who taps into stories and storytelling as powerful ways to build empathy and create space for dialogue.
In order to apply for SPEAK! Leadership Award, you must first be certified by Novelly in dialogue facilitation.
Earn your certification in dialogue facilitation, specifically healing justice dialogue through literature.
Apply your skills by leading a
dialogue project for your community virtually or in-person.
Write and submit an essay about the impact of the dialogue project to be
considered for a SPEAK! Award.
Every June, Novelly will host AMPLIFY, a summer awards event recognizing diverse youth voices in publishing and dialogue leadership. The SPEAK! Leadership Awards are presented at this event. The Awards recognize students who have led exemplary courageous conversations and have demonstrated excellence in 21st century leadership skills, such as empathy, communication, and dialogue facilitation.
First, the dialogue is centered on a social issue.
Second, it should last at least 1 hour for meaningful
discussion. Third, the event must use a story, such
as a novelly from the Novelly library, to kick off
the discussion.
All dialogue projects and applications should be
completed by:
Join the community in order to get reminders about deadlines, find new opportunities and resources, and collaborate with other students who are interested in the power of stories and dialogue!
