Eligibility
- Students must be in middle or high school (ages 13-18) and living in the US or Canada.
- Students must also have access to the Internet.
SPEAK! Leadership
The only program recognizing exemplary teenage readers for their advocacy.
“Right now, what we’re lacking in society is the ability to listen to each other.”
— Cat M, SPEAK Alumna
About SPEAK! Leadership
We need a new kind of leader who taps into stories and storytelling as powerful ways to build build empathy, advocate for themselves and others, and create space for dialogue.
How do I win a SPEAK! Leadership Award?
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3
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Complete the SPEAK! Leadership Certification.
Complete our online training and earn a certificate confirming that you developed skills in empathy, advocacy, and dialogue.
Program Requirements
Duration:
5 weeks
5 weeks
Time Commitment:
3 hrs/week
3 hrs/week
Attend 1 virtual
session
session
Apply
Join the SPEAK! Youth Network.
If you completed the certification, you're automatically part of the SPEAK! Youth Network. To be considered an active member of the network, you must apply what you've learned in the certification each semester and start courageous conversations online or offline and in your school or community.
How do I apply what I've learned each semester?
Choose a social issue
that is important to you
that is important to you
Host 1+ hours of
discussion about the issue
discussion about the issue
Use a story in
Novelly library as a foundation
Novelly library as a foundation
Check out some examples of students' work
Apply for a SPEAK! Award.
Starting in 2023, every June, Novelly will host AMPLIFY, a summer event celebrating Novelly students at the end of the school year. The SPEAK! Leadership Awards will be presented at this event and will recognize students who have led exemplary courageous conversations throughout the year. In 2022, even though we will not be hosting AMPLIFY, we're excited to share that we'll still be able to offer $5,000 in total for student award winners.
Deadline : June 26, 2022
Apply for a SPEAK! Award
Not ready to apply just yet?
Get inspired by our library of social justice literature written by and for youth.
