Rising Voices: How Speak With Purpose is Turning Youth Into Confident Leaders
At the heart of Seattle’s youth empowerment movement is a stage—not a big one, but one that holds powerful stories, big dreams, and young voices ready to be heard. That stage belongs to Speak With Purpose (SWP), and their annual Rising Voices showcase is a celebration of what happens when children are given not just the mic—but the confidence to use it.
A Stage for Change
Camden Clayton, a 6th grader in the program, said it best: “I wanted to participate so I could use my voice to speak and educate people on what’s wrong in the world.” For Camden—and so many other students—Rising Voices isn’t just an opportunity. It’s a platform to stand tall, speak truth, and spark change.
Judge Chukundi Salisbury Jr. broke it down clearly: “You’re not going to get nowhere in life without being confident in yourself.” That’s why SWP isn’t just about speeches—it’s about building self-belief. And that belief echoes through every classroom, community space, and stage SWP steps into.
Building Confidence From the Inside Out
Fifth grader Mack Madden shared, “I’ve been practicing every day. If I don’t want to, I still have to do it to get me to college and high school and middle school.” That kind of mindset shows just how far these students are thinking ahead. Through public speaking, they’re learning the power of preparation, persistence, and purpose.
And it’s not just the students noticing the change—parents are seeing it too. Mack’s father, Kenneth Madden, reflected, “The changes I’ve seen is he’s more boisterous. He’s able to do speeches and stand up and talk in front of people.”
The Vision Behind the Movement
Founded and led by Toyia T. Taylor, Speak With Purpose is rooted in one core idea: every child’s voice matters. As she puts it, “Public speaking is not a soft skill... this program allows students’ stories to be elevated, celebrated, and heard.”
Educator and SWP alum Rahma Mohamed said it plain: “If you give these students the opportunity, space, and time to listen to them, they have a lot to say.”
And what started as a passion project has grown into a fully community-backed movement. “Toya is an inspiration,” Rahma added. “This entire program is because of her hard work and dream.”
A True Community Celebration
The Rising Voices showcase isn’t just a talent show—it’s a family reunion for the community. “This is our culmination,” Toya shared. “We invite the community to come out… you're seeing inter-generation.” From free admission to standing ovations, the energy is unmatched.
Kenneth Madden said it best: “It felt good to be able to come see my son stand up, speak in front of people.”
Looking Toward the Future
With events like the Rising Voices finals at the Museum of Flight on the horizon, the momentum is only growing. Toyia promises a showcase like no other: “Our top 24 finalist scholars will be speaking their truth... Bring your child out so they can be inspired and understand their story matters too.”
Because when young people speak with purpose, the world listens.
