http://www.projectvoyce.org/
Project VOYCE is a non-profit organization that provides leadership programs for students in the underprivileged sectors of Denver and teaches them how to combat challenges in their communities. VOYCE stands for “Voices of Youth Changing Education”, which provides an environment where students can discuss the problems facing their community, specifically issues regarding their educational systems and communities, and how they can change them.
In 2006, the closure of Manual High School- a traditionally underserved, high minority, high free/reduced lunch, inner city public school in Denver - served as a catalyst for the creation of Project VOYCE (Voices of Youth Changing Education). While the closure and school redesign efforts had good intentions of involving the community input, the youth recommendations were left out of the final reports and ultimate redesign. Determined to ensure that the insights would be heard and utilized in future school reform efforts, two former Manual students, a former teacher and the founder of YouthBiz, launched Project VOYCE. Project VOYCE works to provide a separate arena for students to discuss and breakdown societal barriers. They “restore human agency” in young people by providing tools to develop, employ, and organize. Project VOYCE encourages students to engage in civic problems and be critical of education which becomes instrumental in creating societal change within the disadvantaged communities that become stuck in the cycle of poverty. Project VOYCE increases the leadership potential for their mentees in hopes that they will soon be in decision-making roles. This way, representation is provided across social structures and socioeconomic lines.
3455 Ringsby Court #131 Denver CO 80216
