June 2022
Silent Auction Items Needed
The Project VOYCE Fundraising Team is hosting their third Silent Auction in conjunction with the Annual Venture with VOYCE celebration event, where youth showcase the leadership skills and achievements gained from participating in PV programming. We are in the process of collecting Items from multiple businesses to be auctioned off. In order to make this event a true triumph, we want to ask for your help.
Do you know a business that would donate a product or service to help us raise money? All contributions to the Silent Auction and our annual celebration will benefit historically underrepresented youth in getting access to afterschool and summer programming by providing supplies, transportation, and participant stipend. Your donation can be something as simple as a gift certificate to a local business, a night on the town, or a weekend at your favorite resort.
Simply fill out this year's item donation form or email us at events@projectvoyce.org for more information.
2022 Summer Academy is Underway!
We are two weeks into the 2022 Summer Academy, a program to support and develop youth (14-24) into transformational leaders. As participants deepen their understanding of their identity, strengthen their voice and develop their leadership style, they are also preparing to showcase their skills and growth at this year’s Venture with VOYCE: Youth Reclaiming Power. Are you or do you know a Denver area youth interested in leadership development that incorporates healing-centered and community-based self-discovery and guidance? If so, let us know! Fill out the Project VOYCE Interest Form or contact our Program Manager, Tiya Trent, at tiya@projectvoyce.org.
Project VOYCE Alum, Helen Obuna, co-author and researcher on Designing Equitable Out-of-School-Time Programs
We could not be more proud of how our participants are moving through the world and changing systems to make their world a better one. In this publication, a youth-led research project provided indications as to how young people from historically underrepresented communities experience out-of-school-time programming. The two key recommendations from young people are to “eliminate discriminatory behavior by staff members and program participants [and] reduce participation barriers like unaffordable program fees.” A unique characteristic of Project VOYCE is that we provide stipends for all participants as a deterrent from having to seek employment that does not support or encourage ongoing leadership development. A pervasive myth is that all youth have equal access to “free time,” which disguises the economic burdens often shouldered by BIPOC and historically underrepresented youth and communities. Read the full report from the Wallace Foundation here.