Voices of the Movement

Turn the Speakers Up

A spoken-word piece by Rose Jones, CEO & Founder of Speak & Inspire Foundation

To the kid who got quiet when life got loud.

To the girl who was told she's "too much."

To the boy who was told to man up and stay quiet.

I see you.

Somewhere along the way, you learned to shrink yourself. To whisper instead of speak up. To step back so somebody else could shine. To hold your truth in because it didn't feel safe to let it out.

But I need you to hear this — your voice is not a mistake. It's a message. It's a movement. It's a miracle. And it matters.

Maybe nobody ever told you what you feel is real. What you have to say is worth saying. Staying quiet kept you safe for a while, but that's not who you are.

Because quiet kids grow into quiet adults. And we don't want that for you. We want you bold. Loud. Real. Here.

So speak up. Even if your voice shakes. Even if don't nobody clap. Even if you're the only one standing.

Because when you speak, somebody else finds the courage to speak too.

Let's turn the speakers up.

— Rose Jones, Founder & CEO, Speak & Inspire Foundation