VOX ATL Is Necessary
VOX ATL is… Atlanta’s home for uncensored teen publishing and self-expression.
A teen-driven, professional space and a learning environment for diverse teens in metro Atlanta.
A commitment to true diversity.
Our roster of teen staff and contributors will annually include teens from all academic, geographic, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, life experience and socioeconomic backgrounds.
History
In 1993, VOX ATL’s founder, Rachel Alterman Wallack, along with 13 Atlanta-area teens and 10 adult volunteers created VOX ATL, a teen-driven newspaper that would serve as an uncensored voice for teens where they could talk about the issues they care about. VOX quickly grew into a holistic youth-development program, and for more than 32 years has provided free, teen-driven, quality afterschool programming with a focus on self-expression and leadership development. All of our program activities support teens in developing the 21st-century skills needed for healthy, productive futures.
For Teens, By Teens.
In VOX ATL’s first print edition, the first VOX ATL teens wrote a letter addressed to the “General Public of Atlanta, Georgia.” This letter’s purpose was to introduce VOX ATL to their community, to clearly state their purpose and debunk the “fallacy” of the word teenager carrying a negative context in society. On the second page of that first issue, laid out behind this letter in purple lettering, sat dozens of words that the “creators of VOX ATL” wanted Atlanta to unlearn as negative synonyms for teen.
Lazy. Cranky. Self-Centered. Horny. Immature. Frivolous. Ungrateful.
“We come from all different backgrounds, races and creeds, creating a diverse mixture of cultures, yet we remain as one vast, conflicting stereotype,” they wrote. “The teenagers of Atlanta realize that rather than attempting to abolish this stereotype, we must dispel its influence.” So, the creators of VOX sought to address each of Atlanta’s community issues in “the sea of social issues” with an “open mind and a unifying spirit” through their coverage of their peers and their city. They pledged to “confront the negative aspects” of their world, while acknowledging the positive aspects in order to “create a positive image” of themselves.
They ended their letter with this:
“VOX is ready and willing to redefine our reputation and face the issues that concern us. After all, we are teens – and we are proud of it!”
Teens First
VOX ATL’s motto is “teens first.” Our board and adult staff are comprised of working journalists, nonprofit professionals, corporate leaders, community volunteers, VOX ATL alumni and current VOX ATL teen leaders. The VOX ATL leadership team works together to collaborate with and for teens to ensure their positive adolescent development and readiness for future success.