VOICE WORKS NJ

06/11/2026

As a part of our ongoing civic engagement initiative at VOICE WORKS NJ, Asbury Park Schools high school students engaged in multiple legislative activities this year. Last month, students met virtually with their State Senator Vin Gopal and State Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul to discuss how they can protect their future voting rights and influence immigration policy.

Then a few weeks ago, students traveled to Trenton, NJ for their annual trip to the State Capitol and end-of-year celebration breakfast. During their visit, students participated in the State House Tours' Make-A-Law program, where they analyzed a real piece of legislation and gained a deeper understanding about the legislative process by deliberating, debating, and voting as members of the Education Committee in the NJ State Assembly.

Our students are already talking about going back to the NJ State Capitol next year and visiting more frequently!! We are so grateful to our state legislators for taking the time to directly engage with their young constituents, and to the great state of New Jersey for providing meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for students right where the work of democracy happens.

04/29/2026

Still buzzing over here over about Asbury Park Schools high school students' commitment to their community and drive to effect change in evidence-based ways with key stakeholder input!

For that last few months, students identified a topic to study and launched a mixed methods analysis using qualitative focus group interviews to collect input from key stakeholders, including teachers, security guards, and administrators, in addition to a mixed survey using likert scale ratings and open-ended questions to understand how students experience school bathrooms.

They found through systematic analysis, over two weeks of twice-daily checks of each bathroom on all three floors, that students frequently lacked access to unlocked bathrooms fully stocked with toilet paper, paper towels, and soap.

Solutions came from a variety of sources: renovating bathrooms so environments are cleaner and students feel a better sense of belonging and respect in schools; implementing student accountability solutions; and increasing student and staff support for accountability measures like sign out logs, frequent restroom sweeps, and notifying monitors of issues in the bathrooms.

Next steps included ensuring renovations are completed and implementing school wide accountability measures to ensure long-term project success by next school year.

One roadblock students learned about from administration is the lack of funding to increase staffing for security guards and bathroom monitors to ensure bathrooms remain clean and unlocked throughout the day and students are held accountable for keeping their environment clean.

Students will continue to explore ways to make their plans come to fruition and improve their school community.

Thank you so much Rutgers University Graduate School of Education and Columbia University Teachers College for facilitating an exhilarating professional development series where educators are given the tools to turn student voice to action with youth-led research. The Youth in Action Summit was so moving to see youth's collective power to benefit their communities.

04/24/2026

04/23/2026

Asbury Park High School Students participated in the Civil Engagement Project at Rutgers University today.

01/31/2026

01/26/2026

Amanda Gorman This is the epitome of using your voice to change the world. Words of love rebuke hate. Keep writing, speaking,and praying for peace🙏🙏🙏

01/22/2026

Looking for former debaters and coaches join us
Message us

01/17/2026

Dear Friends and Supporters of Great Debaters Scholarship Fund,

We are excited to share an important milestone in our organization's journey.

What began as the Great Debaters Scholarship Fund in 2018, created to support and uplift the APHS Debate Team and provide scholarships for graduating seniors, has grown beyond our original scope. As our impact has expanded, so has our mission. Today, we are proud to announce our rebrand as VOICE WORKS NJ.

Building on our foundation in debate education and scholarship, VOICE WORKS NJ expands opportunities for students to engage with government, public policy, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership through experiential learning and direct engagement with elected officials and industry professionals.

We envision a future where all students are given the tools and opportunities to become civic and community leaders, serving as elected officials at all levels and branches of government, taking on leadership roles in their careers, and driving meaningful, positive change in their communities.

Thank you for all your continued engagement and support over these past 8 years. We look forward to advancing this work together as VOICE WORKS NJ.

With gratitude,

VOICE WORKS NJ Executive Board
Kaitlin Allsopp, Chris Demarsico, & Michael Manning
(Formerly Great Debaters Scholarship Fund)

P.S. Please check out our new website to learn more about our organization, donate to our student success fund, and sign up for our new quarterly newsletter!

💻 https://www.voiceworksnj.org/

Originally founded as the Great Debaters Scholarship Fund in 2018, VOICE WORKS recently evolved in its mission from a simple scholarship fund and booster program for the Asbury Park High School Debate Team into a dynamic organization dedicated to increasing opportunities for students to put their de...

12/14/2025

Class of 2018 alumni visit!! Seeing our debate alumni from years past and hearing about their big plans and accomplishments cements our dedication to bringing debate and civic engagement to APHS students.

Yesterday, our Board met at Asbury Park High School to first plan out some fundraising events, college and career exposure experiences, and civic engagement field trips. Then, we held a Saturday debate practice with a group of extremely dedicated debaters, broke down the new topic, and conducted some preliminary internet research to build our cases.

After, we introduced our debaters to an entirely new project: Youth Participatory Action Research. This is a fantastic curriculum and accompanying professional development program led by Rutgers Graduate School of Education and Teachers College at Columbia University, where young people are given the tools to take leadership over researching and leading policy and social change in their community. APHS students dove right in, brainstorming possible data needs and solutions to ensure hygienic bathrooms in their schools. I can't wait to see what they come up with and to help them along the way.

09/10/2025

Today, there was an attack on free speech and debate on a college campus. Our board vehemently condemns political violence and continues to work towards a world where our students are free to debate and express views of all perspectives. We pray for Charlie Kirk and his family during this national tragedy, and we call on everyone to affirm their commitment to free speech, and oppose political violence in all its forms.