Vocal Justice

Vocal Justice We position youth who are proximate to injustice as leaders for social change.

Venus Ayalani was an incredible poet, griot, friend, thinker, and artist. So many people experienced their duality to be...
07/14/2026

Venus Ayalani was an incredible poet, griot, friend, thinker, and artist. So many people experienced their duality to be student and teacher, mentor and mentee, youth and elder.

We are so proud to have met and worked alongside them at Vocal Justice. From 2022 to 2023, they served as our Curriculum Intern, putting their creative genius into our curriculum. Their ideas and impact will continue in classrooms across the country.

Their legacy is in every ‘Where I’m From’ poem you’ve heard, it’s in the community circles, in healing exercises they crafted for our teachers. And beyond.

Venus is with the ancestors now. They will be deeply missed by us at Vocal Justice, in Chicago, on Earth.

Before the Youth Leadership Summit

Venus, the poet.

Venus x Chicago Freedom School

Shawon, Bess, and Venus

We’ve been expecting adults to fix schools for a long time. We see it at every school board meeting, professional develo...
06/05/2026

We’ve been expecting adults to fix schools for a long time. We see it at every school board meeting, professional development, and teacher fellowship.

This fall, students get a seat at the table where decisions actually get made. The Across Generations Fellowship is an intergenerational effort where administrator, teacher, and student school teams come together to better integrate youth power into their school’s structure.

Applications are open now. The work starts this fall 2026. This is a paid opportunity. Share this with your school community. 🔁

Are you fighting to help your students add nuance, see connections between issues, and trace the historical legacy of vi...
05/14/2026

Are you fighting to help your students add nuance, see connections between issues, and trace the historical legacy of viral moments they witness on social media?

Use the Iceberg Theory to help them deepen their thinking on systemic issues. 📝💜

congrats to these YAC members on their college decisions 🎓💜our YAC fun spin on a decisions page 😭excited to see what’s n...
05/06/2026

congrats to these YAC members on their college decisions 🎓💜

our YAC fun spin on a decisions page 😭
excited to see what’s next for each of you

different paths, same energy 🎤

* honorable mention to Milo, already doing their thing in college 😌

Behind every powerful young voice is an educator who sees the shift. When classrooms become spaces of trust and courage,...
04/30/2026

Behind every powerful young voice is an educator who sees the shift. When classrooms become spaces of trust and courage, students begin to open up in ways that truly matter. This is what happens when young people are given the tools—and the permission—to be heard.

Vocal Justice equips young people with the tools to speak boldly, think critically, and lead with purpose. By centering ...
04/28/2026

Vocal Justice equips young people with the tools to speak boldly, think critically, and lead with purpose. By centering experience and identity, our work nurtures confidence while deepening understanding of social justice and equity. Youth are not just participants; they are powerful voices shaping conversations and driving change in their communities. Vocal Justice exists to ensure those voices are heard, valued, and impossible to ignore.



Energy matters, but strategy is what moves power.When young people take action, it’s more than a moment; it’s the start ...
04/27/2026

Energy matters, but strategy is what moves power.

When young people take action, it’s more than a moment; it’s the start of something deeper. Real change happens when that energy is organized, targeted, and sustained.

From visibility to impact — that’s where the work begins.

Our youth are telling their stories, one verse at a time. ‘My Family, My Roots’ explores the strength, love, and history...
04/23/2026

Our youth are telling their stories, one verse at a time. ‘My Family, My Roots’ explores the strength, love, and history that shape us. Every word is a window into their world.

When young people are trusted as experts of their own experiences, everything shifts. They carry their stories, their in...
04/19/2026

When young people are trusted as experts of their own experiences, everything shifts. They carry their stories, their insights, their truths. It’s not only powerful - it’s essential.
This is how confidence grows. This is how connection happens. This is how change begins.

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601 William Street
Oakland, CA
94612

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