In July, VOX ATL alumni, teen contributors, community partners, and staff gathered to celebrate 32 years of uplifting teen voices — and to honor the legacy of VOX ATL’s founder, Rachel Alterman Wallack, as she transitions out of her full-time role. The event buzzed with classic VOXy energy: teens making media, interactive activities, plenty of snacks, and moving tributes to the woman who started it all. Rachel capped off the celebration by sharing a few heartfelt words:
Thank you!
There’s not enough time (or words) in the world to fully thank each of YOU and all of the people who have made tonight special and who made VOX — VOXy!
But — thanks for indulging me a moment to try!
First — A heartfelt thank you to Susan and Charaun, who have organized, planned, invited, convinced me to celebrate in this way, and are co-hosting this loving reunion — including the thoughtful choice of this beautiful venue — a longtime community partner.
Thank you to Moving in the Spirit (MIS) for allowing us to gather here. MIS has been kindred spirits to VOX in the commitment to uplift authentic youth voices through their original art — in their case, dance — for our whole organizational life! Dana co-founded MIS seven years before we created VOX! Our histories are connected through shared values, staff who support each other, and collaborative projects. If you don’t yet know this terrific organization, I encourage you to check them out and learn more.
And — clearly this is not in priority order — thank you to my own family.
Sandy — my husband and partner in life — has been by my side every step of VOX’s history and growth. Each organizational milestone, each new program, each Saturday, late night, or out-of-town conference where he took the parenting lead, each fundraiser or community event he supported, each new venture — including the leap to expand the nonprofit consulting I’m starting… Sandy believed in our mission because I asked him to — because he believes in me — and I could not be more grateful.
And our kids: Isaac — I’m so grateful you’re here tonight — and Dov and Joanna, who are out of state right now — I hope you each know that you have always been the most important young people to me, even as my vocation and values included uniting and supporting teenagers throughout metro Atlanta. You never wanted to participate as a VOXer — and while I want VOX for all young people — I understand your choice. Young people need places to shine, to be known, to stretch and fail and grow and laugh and lead away from their families and caregivers. I love that VOX provides that for so many youth. But you, my own kids — please know I see your creativity and spark and leadership shine — and I hope you each continue to know the value and vitality of your own voice wherever you go.
That’s what I want for all young people: to be known, and heard, and believed. And that’s why I’m going to continue to support VOX — as our founder and as an early member of the annual giving circle, the Uncensored Fund — created by Charaun and today’s team.
Speaking of today’s team — can y’all come up here real quick?
Charaun, Lauren (alum!), John, Courtni — I want you all to see the faces of the folks leading VOX ATL today, because they need all of us as they steward the program, the people, the publishing, and the place that this community continues to be.
AND — speaking of community — it would not be a VOX gathering if we did not do a little community connection.
SO — can we take a moment to see & celebrate who’s in the room?
- If you’re a teen today, or were a teen at VOX — can we get a little hands-up? Keep your hand up (if you can), and let’s clap it up for folks as they show who’s in the room.
- How about adult staff — current adult staff and former staff who may be here tonight?
- Board — current board and former board/board alumni?
- Community partners — from Voices for GA’s Children and GSAN to GCAPP, PSE, Morehouse School of Medicine, Silence the Shame, Counter Narrative Project, DBHDD, YouthSpark, Marietta YELLS, and more!
- Volunteers — you’re story coaches, field trip hosts, summer program instructors, job shadowing hosts, or event volunteers.
- Donors — personally or institutionally?
Many of you have multiple, intersecting roles! If you’ve played Big Wind Blows, written or created video or podcast, been interviewed… raise your hand — and clap it up!
Your hands are all up because you opted in. You said yes: young people’s experiences matter, and their expertise is now. Your hands are up because you share my belief that community matters — that other people’s children are our children — and that a community is stronger when we know each other, care about each other, and bring our expertise together. That is where the magic happens.
So — keep opting in. This team — and the well-being of our communities — need all of us to keep raising our hands.
I could go on and on — but I won’t.
I will leave you — for now — with the top three ground rules I’ve heard from teenagers for the last 32 years, and that I will carry forward as I expand the training and technical assistance around teen engagement and youth voice to inform and improve communities — and I hope you do the same.
#1 — Don’t Yuck My Yum
Through VOX, I have seen folks work together to dismantle the impacts of systemic racism, learn about each other’s cultures, faith practices, countries of origin, and meet (and often befriend) people they’d never have known otherwise. I’ve witnessed first-time triers of hummus and understanding of folks who have different neurology. I’ve seen folks sharing music, creating shared playlists (OK, that did not happen in the ’90s, but we did take turns listening to different musical genres), and coming together across differences. We need more of that in our world today.
#2 — The Vegas Rule 2.0
AKA: What’s said here stays here; what’s learned here leaves here. This is the commitment to protect each other’s privacy while looking out for each other’s well-being and committing to support someone when they need extra help.
#3 — Oops / Ouch
We have to have a way to disrupt hurtful actions and restore when we accidentally harm each other. And we will hurt each other sometimes — even inadvertently — because we are human. Being able to say and hear “ouch” — and respond with an “oops” — would make our world safer, more peaceful, more loving… dare I say, more VOXy?
OK — just one more: The High School Musical Rule.
I really did think this one was cheesy when the teens first crafted it years ago — but I would not want to live without it. We really are all in this together.
And I hope we always will be.
— Rachel Alterman Wallack
