she speaks
boldly.
The She Speaks Foundation helps girls and gender-expansive youth find their authentic voice — building real confidence through public speaking and leadership skills.
every girl deserves to be heard
She Speaks is a new, all-female-founded nonprofit tackling the confidence gap that emerges in girls during the tween and early teen years — when self-doubt, social pressure, and fear of judgment can begin to silence even the most capable voices.
Why now?
As AI-driven communication reshapes how we express, persuade, and connect, equipping young women to use their authentic, human voices — boldly, with clarity and courage — has never been more urgent. It's not just an educational goal. It's a social imperative.
Confidence that lasts
Through practice, encouragement, and community, participants build self-assurance not just in what they say, but in who they are — learning to speak up with clarity and conviction inside and outside the classroom.
Real-world doors open
Older teens gain practical tools for life's big transitions — interviewing for jobs and scholarships, pitching passion projects, preparing for college admissions, and stepping into leadership roles.
Built for everyone
We prioritize girls and gender-expansive youth who lack access to leadership opportunities — partnering with public schools serving low-income and first-generation students, and community organizations supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth.
our mission
To empower young people who identify as female — including non-binary and gender-expansive youth — to use their authentic voice and boldly share their ideas through the power of public speaking.
what makes us different
She Speaks is the only program offering a ready-to-use, comprehensive curriculum designed exclusively to build self-confidence and practical public speaking skills in young women.
the she speaks curriculum
Confidence, clarity, and authentic self-expression
An inclusive, modular public speaking and leadership program — delivered through facilitator-led workshops in person, or video modules and worksheets online. It's designed for ease of use by educators and youth leaders, meets current core content standards, and adapts to any age group from grades 6–12. Students learn to:
- Build confidence and self-awareness
- Master speech structure and delivery
- Practice authentic storytelling and persuasive speaking
- Give and receive peer feedback, and collaborate
A flexible speaking toolbox
Students identify their authentic communication style and build skills that work in any situation — with friends, online, in interviews, or in front of an audience.
Nerves become fuel
Participants learn to harness adrenaline and nervous energy, turning it into presence and performance instead of fear.
Think on your feet
Foundational interview skills teach students to answer questions with clarity and confidence — on the spot, in person, or over Zoom.
Ready for your classroom
Especially valuable for students navigating social anxiety, leadership development, interviews, and public speaking requirements.
the 8-week journey
From speaking aloud for the very first time to delivering a full persuasive speech — every week builds confidence, clarity, and authentic self-expression. Tap a week to explore.
What we do: The "21 Things" self-discovery writing exercise, paired sharing, group presentation, and guided reflection on topics students care about.
What students walk away with: Students speak aloud in front of peers, identify 3–6 topics they feel personally connected to, and establish community norms and psychological safety.
What we do: Story performances, group feedback identifying effective techniques, and an introduction to narrative flow and structure.
What students walk away with: Students deliver a complete personal narrative, identify the structural tools that make stories work, and reflect on their speaking strengths.
What we do: Revised story performances, structured peer feedback, a lesson on the physiological response to nerves, plus practical grounding and breathing techniques.
What students walk away with: Students show measurable improvement in clarity or presence, understand how anxiety affects their body, and choose a personalized strategy for managing nerves.
What we do: A 3–5 minute demonstrative presentation using a prop, followed by audience reflection: "one thing I learned."
What students walk away with: Students organize content into logical steps, experience the ease of speaking about something they know well, and practice pacing and audience awareness.
What we do: Interview question practice, the CAR method (Context, Action, Result), the "So What?" clarity exercise, and Zoom communication techniques.
What students walk away with: Students answer questions in a structured format, get noticeably more concise, and master verbal and nonverbal communication in virtual settings.
What we do: The "Random Object Pitch," the body mirror exercise, and Triangle Talk — a family/school/hobby framework for everyday conversation.
What students walk away with: Students practice spontaneous speaking, gain tools for easing social anxiety, and leave with practical frameworks for starting and sustaining conversations.
What we do: A communication styles workshop, reflection on real-life communication challenges, and instruction in persuasive speech structure.
What students walk away with: Students identify their dominant communication style, learn to adapt to others, and prepare a persuasive speech using formal structure.
What we do: A 3–5 minute persuasive speech, peer recognition of improvement, and a written reflection on personal growth.
What students walk away with: Students deliver a structured persuasive presentation, articulate how they've grown over 8 weeks, and demonstrate visibly greater confidence than Week 1.
what growth looks like
confidence
- A student who once avoided eye contact volunteers to speak
- A shy participant completes a 3–5 minute speech
- Students report less anxiety and more control over nerves
clarity
- Structured storytelling replaces rambling
- Interview answers follow a clear Context–Action–Result framework
- Presentations have strong beginnings, middles, and ends
authentic self-expression
- Students speak about topics that genuinely matter to them
- They name their own strengths instead of copying others
- They adapt to any audience without losing their voice
in their own words
The best measure of She Speaks is what students say when the 8 weeks are over.
Before this program I would never raise my hand, even when I knew the answer. Now I volunteer to go first. I didn't know I had this in me.
I used to think being nervous meant I wasn't good at speaking. Now I know how to use that energy. My persuasive speech was the proudest I've ever felt at school.
I practiced interview answers in week 5 and used them for real two weeks later — I got the summer job. I actually felt calm walking in.
three ways to join us
Run the program
Bring She Speaks to your students. Our modular curriculum is designed for grades 6–12 and is easy for educators and youth leaders to deliver — in person, online, or both. We're recruiting pilot partners in California now.
Become a pilot partnerFuel a young voice
Your gift powers the curriculum and helps us reach students who lack access to leadership opportunities. Donations are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor.
Donate or sponsorLend your expertise
Are you experienced in education, youth advocacy, speech coaching, or nonprofit leadership? Join our growing advisory board, or volunteer your skills to help us reach more students.
Raise your handNow recruiting 2026–27 pilot sites. We're partnering with 2–3 schools and youth organizations in Northern and Southern California to launch the She Speaks curriculum and gather impact data. Want in early?
Talk to our teamfounded by women, for the next generation
Eileen DiFranco
Eileen is a seasoned organizational leader with decades of experience in marketing and social change communications across the corporate, nonprofit, and academic sectors. She is currently Director of Development Communications at Stanford Medicine, leading strategic storytelling and donor engagement for life-saving medical research. Her past roles include motivational speaking and global leadership positions at SAP, Informatica, and Yahoo!. With a master's in communications and leadership from Gonzaga University and deep experience teaching public speaking and social impact storytelling, Eileen leads the foundation's vision, outreach, and fundraising strategy.
Jacy King
Jacy is a communication specialist and educator dedicated to helping teenage girls discover and strengthen their authentic voices. She holds a master's in communication and leadership from Gonzaga University and spent 25 years as a professional actor — giving her firsthand insight into the challenges women face when speaking up. Her forthcoming chapter in Leadership Communication Theory and Practice (2026) explores authentic voice in leadership. Jacy leads corporate trainings, facilitates women's empowerment workshops across Los Angeles, and mentors through a local female Scout troop. She leads instructional design for the She Speaks program. Meet Jacy →
the world needs her voice. let's make sure she uses it.
Whether you're an educator, a supporter, or a volunteer — there's a place for you in this movement.
Get in touch