Boston Mobilization: Sound Off Like You Mean It!

Speak Up! Team, in their own words...

Julia Van Dyke
Lead Organizer.

Kristen Jones
"What I find most compelling about this project is the way in which these students have chosen to tackle such a huge problem like racism - with the use of personal stories. We hope that these personal stories will open up a dialogue about racism between students, administrators, and parents, so that we can make conscious steps together toward ending racism."

Blen Girum
Lead Author. Blen worked with the Sub/Urban Justice Summer Program in '08. Throughout her senior year, she worked tirelessly to gather stories and edit the Anthology. At Cornell, Blen has continued to stay involved! "I believe the Speak Up! Project has a strong potential to play a vital role in academic discourse within our schools. This is an opportunity to empower students to freely express themselves on a systemic oppression such as racism."

Hannah Birnbaum
Lead Author. "Through using personal stories, I believe that people will understand that racism still exists and more importantly it still exists in our own communities. Our goal is not to condemn others, but to give a voice and story to those who are not heard. Through these stories, I wish to bring education and reflection to my own community."

Jenna Spencer
Lead Author. "Many people living on the East Coast always talk about how racist the South is, while denying the racism that exists in their own backyards. The Speak Up! Project is so important because it draws attention to the discrimination that exists all across the United States. Nobody can deny someone else's personal story."

Chris Messinger
Support Staff. "The Speak Up! Project is so powerful because it relies on story and lived experience as a teaching tool. It's an example of engaged students making their curriculum more responsive - and tackling the issue that is most impacting them in a tangible way. I wish Speak Up! had been available when I was a student."

Alle Davolio
Intern. Alle is from Olympia, WA and is currently living in Boston while pursuing her BA in Marketing Communications at Emerson College. She is working as part of the Speak Up! Project team to help market and promote the book, as well as working on a team of Emerson students working with Boston Mobilization.

Lindsay Necarsulmer

Cailin Barrett-Bressack

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What people are saying about Speak Up!

"One of the key takeaways from this book- it's not enough to just open the door, we have to find ways to work together." -- Maureen, Administrator

"your book is FABULOUS. Sean and I have used a couple readings and follow up questions from it and the ensuing discussions have been fantastic. I wish there were more books like this...."
-- Jessica, UU Educator

""It's a neat book. I'm very impressed." --Larry, Educator, Cape Cod

"I love it, I think it's amazing." --Vanessa, Teacher, Western Mass

"I can't wait to use this book in our social justice class"-- Heather, Instructor, North Shore (Ma)

Exerpt from the book

Exerpted from Good Hair Day...

" received several compliments just walking from my dorm to the dining hall. I quickly noticed that most students were extremely fascinated by the volume and texture of my hair. This fascination had bothered me a little. It wasn't like I dyed my hair a random color; I just left it out curly. That was the first time I realized that most of the students probably had a different upbringing than mine... I remember hearing later that day that there were a couple people that were debating whether my hair was all mine or not. I was furious because I knew my hair was all mine, and more importantly, I didn't wear my hair natural for it to be up for debate..." (cont'd on Page 26)