Amplify Voices

09/16/2026

09/14/2026

Six years. So many voices. More ripples than we will ever fully know. 💜

Today, Amplify Voices celebrates its sixth anniversary. But this milestone has never been about an organization - it belongs to every person who trusted us with a piece of their story and every person willing to receive it with an open heart.

To every graduate who stepped into a Circle, every facilitator who held space, and every volunteer, donor, partner, and audience member who believed stories could change how we see one another: You are part of this.

For six years, we’ve watched shame begin to lose its power, stigma soften, and connection grow. We’ve seen what becomes possible when people are reminded:
Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
You matter.

We are deeply grateful for where these stories have landed - and excited for the voices still waiting to be heard.

Happy sixth anniversary, Amplify Voices! Here’s to all the ripples yet to come. 💜

If Amplify has touched your life, we would love to hear from you: Where has a story landed with you?

09/04/2026

🎉 We made it to Round 2! 🎉

Here is an EASY way to support our work!

Amplify Voices has been selected as a Local Causes Grant nominee through the Arizona Financial Foundation, and now we need YOUR help. 💜

It takes about two minutes to vote:

Click the voting link in the comments below
Register with your name + email (this ensures one unique vote per person)
Give Amplify Voices a 👍 Thumbs Up!

Voting is open through September 13, and every vote helps move us closer to funding that will support us in bringing more Speaker Circles into our community helping more people find their voice, share their lived experiences, and create greater understanding through storytelling.

If you believe in the power of stories to build empathy, reduce stigma, and strengthen connection, we would be so grateful for your vote. 💜

And please share this post to help us spread the word!

09/03/2026

Within a small, supportive group, you will step into your lived experiences and begin to listen for the message woven through your story. Whether you are drawn to advocacy, public speaking, or simply seeking to understand yourself more deeply, Speaker Circles offer a guided space to help you uncover the meaning your life holds.

Want to join an upcoming Speaker Circle? We'd love to have you. Learn more through the link in our bio or at https://amplifyvoices.org/Programs

08/26/2026

We’re looking for 10 more people to help us reach our first 25 Founding Allies. 💛

The Amplify Ally Collective is our community of monthly donors. For a growing nonprofit like Amplify Voices, that consistent support makes a real difference.

Monthly gifts give us the stability to look ahead, plan Speaker Circles, build new partnerships, invest in growth, and say yes to more opportunities to bring powerful stories into our community.

And being an Ally is about more than making a gift. We want you to feel connected to the work you’re helping make possible through special updates, event perks, and Ally-only experiences.

✨ Our first 25 members will also become Founding Allies and receive an invitation to our first annual Dine with Deb—an intimate evening with Amplify Founder Deb Shapiro over dinner and drinks.

We have 10 Founding Ally spots left, and our goal is to fill them by September 30.

You can join at whatever monthly amount feels right for you. Every Ally helps create the steady foundation that allows this work to grow.

💛 Will you be one of our first 25?

Learn more and join us through the link in our bio or go to amplifyvoices.org/ally

08/24/2026

🎉 We’re so excited to welcome Kate Goergen as Amplify Voices’ new Volunteer Coordinator!

Kate first connected with Amplify after attending our June presentations, where she was deeply moved by the power of storytelling to transform both the person sharing and those listening. That experience inspired her to get involved and we’re so grateful she did.

Kate brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare, with expertise in operations, strategic planning, team development, and creating systems that help people and organizations thrive.

As our Volunteer Coordinator, Kate will help welcome and onboard new volunteers, support communication and coordination, and connect people with opportunities that fit their interests and skills.

As Amplify continues to grow, having someone dedicated to supporting the incredible people who give their time and talents to our mission is a big step forward. 💛

Please help us give Kate a warm welcome!

08/11/2026

Our new Impact Awards site is LIVE and I’m so excited for you to see it! 🎉

Join us November 21st for Where Stories Land — a night of powerful stories, connection, celebration, and inspiration.

Tickets are 20% off right now and we’re already at 50% capacity 👀

Come be part of a night that just might stay with you long after you leave. 💛

Check out the new site + grab your seat! Link in bio or go to amplifyvoices.org/impact

08/04/2026

A year ago, ten graduates from Amplify and DEBx took a meaningful step forward. They joined our first Leadership Development Program, united by a desire to help others navigate the Speaker Circle journey.

Throughout the past year, they dedicated themselves to deep learning—training, practicing, listening, and leading with intention. Today, we honor the first group of certified Speaker Circle Leaders from Amplify.

With more leaders prepared to guide these circles, Amplify can serve new communities. This means more people will have the chance to reflect on their lived experiences, discover meaning in their stories, and share them in ways that build understanding and spark change.

Congratulations to our first cohort! Your commitment to this work helps others find the strength and clarity in their own voices. We are deeply proud of these ten leaders and all that this moment represents for the future of Amplify. Congratulations to Amanda Schneider , Aundria Adams , Chelsea Walsh , Hannah Berger .am.hannah.berger, Jennifer Thom , Karin Del Maestro , Laura Allred , Lisa Ephraim , Loretta Owen cali4niasunset, and Marissa Aguirre .

If you are curious about joining a Speaker Circle or want to learn more, reach out or visit the Amplify Voices link in our bio.

07/02/2026

Some moments feel especially meaningful.

Last month, we had the honor of witnessing Sparky Fletcher share her voice on a stage for the first time and recognizing her with a Congressional Recognition for the role she played in inspiring the creation of Amplify Voices and for her continued support of our mission over the years.

What began as a single conversation helped spark something much larger—a reminder that one voice, one story, and one act of courage can create a ripple effect far beyond what we can imagine.

A heartfelt thank you to Congressman Greg Stanton and his team - Sarah White and Kennedy Czyz - for this special recognition and for their continued support of Amplify Voices and the power of storytelling to strengthen our communities.

Congratulations, Sparky. We are so proud of you! ❤️

06/02/2026

We are thrilled to share that our Executive Director, Amanda Schneider, will be the featured speaker for June's Tempe Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Council!

Amanda will be speaking about advocating for dignity, compassion, and community—values that are at the heart of everything we do at Amplify Voices.

Thank you to the Tempe Chamber for the opportunity to be part of this meaningful conversation. Guests are welcome to attend. If you have been thinking about checking out the Tempe Chamber, comment or DM us and we will register you as our guest!