"Many Young Voices was fun because I got to know my classmates better. I learned to be nice to everyone even if they are a different race or like different things. We are all the same in one way or another. Don't think you need to be mean to someone just because they are different".
Sixth Grader at Jewel Middle School
What is Many Young Voices?
Many Young Voices is a program to bring young people together in school and community settings to take part in dialogue, to promote active citizenry, to promote dialogue and give young people a safe environment to learn, to grow and to talk about things that are meaningful to them. Many Young Voices gives teens the opportunity to have a "voice" in public issues that affect and involve them.
How does it work?
Diverse dialogue groups of 12-15 young people learn about one another by sharing personal experiences and opinions with each other, and by listening to one another. They also learn to understand the difference between dialogue and debate, and how, as individuals, they can make a difference in their families, schools and community. If you would like to get involved, contact us.
This process of discussion amoung equals is as important as the content of the discussions. The sharing of ideas is a dialogue, not a debate. Understanding, not agreement, is the objective.
Our Goals
Help participants know each other as human beings who have their own set of experiences that need to be valued and honored
Help young people participate in active citizenship
Help young people have healthy affiliations so they are less likely to join gangs
Help young people understand more about each others differences and build alliances with each other across these differences
Help young people have greater problem solving skills
Help participants learn the difference between dialogue and debate
These are some of the questions we discuss in Many Young Voices:
What is it like to be young?
What are the positives and negatives of being a teen in today's world?
How can we make our community a better place?
How can we get involved?
How can we deal with racial and ethnic tensions?
What are these tensions caused by and how can you help eliminate the problem?
How can we reduce violence and make our community a safer place?
What issues cause violence and what are better solutions for these issues?
What can we do to make a difference in our community, school, neighborhood?
How can WE make a difference?
The Many Young Voices Web site was designed to increase inter-group understanding and cooperation as well as enhancing skills such as computer usage, organizational problem solving, team building, team work, leadership and conflict resolution. The Website helps continue the discussion. It was created by teen members of the Many Young Voices program. It provides an opportunity for teens to share stories, poems, and art work, which can promote interracial communication and help stop negative images of racial and ethnic groups. The site also serves as a counterbalance for sites promoting racial hatred. The web site enables visitors to share positive stories and experiences about crossing racial lines and social boundaries. In the near future we hope to incorporate message boards and live chats. Watch this space!
