Celebrating Youth Voices: The 11th Annual Rising Voices Showcase by Speak With Purpose

Jun 3

The power of youth storytelling will take center stage at the upcoming 11th Annual Rising Voices Oratory Showcase & Celebration, hosted by Speak With Purpose (SWP). The event, which amplifies the voices of young scholars across King County, will be held on Saturday, June 14 at the Seattle Museum of Flight. Preliminaries were Saturday, May 31, and the showcase is free and open to the public.

Founded by award-winning educator and advocate Toyia T. Taylor, Speak With Purpose is the only in-school storytelling and oratory program of its kind in the region. The program provides students—from grades 3 through 8—with tools to express themselves through journaling, writing, and public speaking. According to Taylor, the program is about far more than just speeches—it’s about giving students permission to be heard.

“My journal became my brave space to exist and not be judged,” Taylor shared in a recent interview. “I want every student who feels voiceless to know their story matters.”

The Rising Voices Showcase is the culmination of months of in-class work where students evolve from silent scribblers to confident speakers. Last year’s showcase featured more than 120 students who courageously shared original speeches on topics ranging from ADHD and identity to the unhoused crisis and intergenerational resilience. Seahawks players, local DJs, and community leaders are among those who regularly show up to cheer them on.

“You hear babies in the audience yelling, ‘You’re beautiful!’ while students are on stage,” Taylor added. “That kind of support matters—it tells them they belong.”

One of the most moving stories Taylor recalled involved a transgender student who began the program withdrawn and afraid to speak in class. With time and support, that student not only took the stage at Rising Voices but won first place in middle school oratory, later becoming an ambassador for Seattle Public Schools.

“By the end, they stood tall in who they were. That’s what this is all about—healing, power, and voice.”

Speak With Purpose currently partners with seven schools, reaching over 750 students annually, and is working toward expanding its model to schools across Washington State—and eventually, the country. As Taylor shared, the vision is clear:

“There isn’t a child in this state that shouldn’t have access to a program like Speak With Purpose. The goal is to grow from seven schools to seventy.”