Speaking Out Loud (SOuL)

Michigan Nightlight: In your view, what makes your program innovative, effective or remarkable? 
Speak It Forward Educational Director Kirk Latimer: The SOuL Project is the only program of its kind that empowers marginalized youth by taking the difficulties of their past and using them as tools for deep self-empowerment. There is no other program that helps youth change their perspective about their scars and turns them into beauty marks. The program

There is no other program that helps youth change their perspective about their scars and turns them into beauty marks.

offers youth a stage from which to share their harrowing and powerfully beautiful stories. And not only does it help in changing these students’ lives, but by performing for the public, it transforms the greater community. Growth becomes ultimately reciprocal.
 
What was the best lesson learned in the past year?
We learned that in order to truly impact a community, not only do community partners need to be aligned on concrete outcomes, but we need to be aligned in our hearts and minds. I’ve heard it said that true happiness happens when what we say, think and do are in harmony. With regards to this program, it was when we engaged the whole person, whole people, whole organizations, whole CEOs and the WHOLE community that we were able to align our passions and make something real and tangible happen. I learned it is possible to create transformation, but it must happen wholly and fully and not in pieces, though there are many who may argue that incremental change is just as valid and effective.
 
What was the hardest lesson learned in the past year?
The hardest lesson learned is that no matter how amazing the program, or how beautiful the connections you make, there is always a limit to your ability to control the outcome. We have seen students choose to go back to their self hate or ego. They have chosen to give up on themselves and their futures though we’ve done all we can in partnership with other organizations to uplift them. This truth is an emotionally hurtful thing with which to come to terms. But it is also critical to understand if you want to thrive and help empower students to understand. True transformation can only occur when it is OWNED by the person going through the transformation.
 

In this program, those kids that supposedly are the toss-aways, the passionately inappropriate and difficult, can find out how all the things that are getting them in trouble are actually the things that will make them powerful, amazing people

What really differentiates this program?
This program combines art, communication, event coordination, community development and involvement, economic development, and education of our youth. There are very few programs that directly integrate all those aspects and align them to achieve very concrete outcomes. The deep underlying passionate belief that through ultimate vulnerability comes true strength is what pulls and holds together all aspects. It produces not only effective “performance poetry” pieces, but also engages hearts and minds of the greater community to further the importance of “true” communication as a preventative measure to many of our societal ills.
 
What are the keys to success for your program?
We are successful because we have a deep and passionate belief in ultimate vulnerability as strength and a willingness to do what we wish others to do. Gabriel and I live, breathe and live what we ask others to do. This adds authenticity and provides an intrinsic form of leadership through the modeling of behavior—and a way of life. This is what makes us successful. We believe so wholeheartedly in what we do that we continue on our path regardless of any obstacles. It is through that fervent drive forward that we are able to better amass an army of spoken word soldiers through our program.
 
What are people in your program most inspired by? 
The youth in SOuL have never been given a means to express themselves in a constructive way. They want to be seen, heard, and loved. In this program, those kids that supposedly are the toss-aways, the passionately inappropriate and difficult, can find out how all the things that are getting them in trouble are actually the things that will make them powerful, amazing people. As for the audience, they are there as members of the community to acknowledge the teens’ courage and to stand witness to their stories.