Our Mission
New York Youth Speaks (www.NewYorkYouthSpeaks.com) is a curated storytelling initiative that provides adolescents with a safe, structured, and ethically moderated space to express their lived experiences.
We believe that young people benefit from being listened to — not analyzed, labeled, or dismissed. Grounded in best practices of youth development and trauma-informed communication, this platform enables youth to share narratives anonymously, fostering reflection, authenticity, and emotional insight without compromising their privacy or dignity. Through anonymous authorship and editorial review, we safeguard wellbeing while amplifying genuine youth expression.
New York Youth Speaks functions as a youth-centered narrative platform designed to responsibly surface the perspectives of emerging adolescents in New York City. We operate with a commitment to safety, respect, and narrative integrity — prioritizing youth voice while supporting healthy identity formation and cross-community empathy.
This project supports developmental literacy, self-advocacy, identity exploration, and psychological resilience, and serves as a valuable resource for educators, clinicians, families, community organizations, and cultural institutions seeking deeper understanding of contemporary youth experience.
Why does this platform exist
Many NYC teens carry stories they cannot say out loud at school, at home, or on social media. Stories about:
When those stories stay inside, young people feel invisible, isolated, or misunderstood. New York Youth Speaks exists so those stories have somewhere to go.
What we believe
- Every young person’s voice deserves to be heard.
Not just the “perfect” ones, not just the loud ones, and not just the ones with big followings. - Anonymity can be protective and freeing.
When you don’t have to attach your real name, you can be more honest about what hurts and what matters. - Stories can create connection and empathy.
A teenager in Queens may feel less alone after reading something from a teen in the Bronx. Adults who read these stories may see young people with more depth and compassion. - Safety and respect come first.
We do not publish hate speech, harassment, or content that targets specific individuals. We edit and moderate to protect the writer and the people in their life.
Who this platform is for
New York Youth Speaks is primarily for:
- Young people aged roughly 13–21 who live in any of the five boroughs of NYC or generally in NY State;
- Teens and young adults who want to read what other youth are experiencing;
- Adults — parents, teachers, counselors, community members — who are willing to listen and learn from youth voices.
What makes us different
New York Youth Speaks is the only platform where you can truly write anonymously.
- no “likes” or popularity contests,
- no comments from strangers,
- no pressure to look a certain way.
This is closer to a newspaper or literary journal — but written by youth and for youth, with anonymity, care, and safety at the center.