Students and tutors gathered in a welcoming learning space

About SpeakUp Scholars

SpeakUp Scholars is a youth-led nonprofit that helps students build confidence in public speaking, debate, and core academics like English, Spanish, and Math. We believe every student deserves a chance to be heard — not just the ones who can afford private coaching.

Why I Started This

I started SpeakUp Scholars after noticing a pattern around me: some students had access to debate camps, private tutors, and speaking coaches — and others, who were just as smart, didn’t get those opportunities at all.

I saw classmates who were scared to raise their hand, who had great ideas but didn’t know how to say them out loud. Some were learning in a language that wasn’t spoken at home. Others simply didn’t have the money or time for extra help.

I’ve been lucky to learn debate and public speaking, and it completely changed how I show up in class, interviews, and life. I wanted to share that same confidence boost with students who might otherwise be left out — for free, in a way that feels supportive, not scary. That’s how SpeakUp Scholars was born.

What Makes Us Different

There are a lot of tutoring programs out there. Here’s what makes SpeakUp Scholars different:

Peer-to-peer energy. Our tutors are students too, so sessions feel less like a lecture and more like working with an older friend who “gets it.”
Skills for life, not just homework. We don’t just help you finish an assignment — we focus on confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills that carry into class presentations, interviews, and future careers.
Debate + public speaking built-in. Most tutoring programs only focus on grades. We weave in speaking, argumentation, and structured thinking so students learn to explain what they know, not just memorize it.
Language-aware support. We know school isn’t always in the same language spoken at home. We try to bridge that gap with help in English and Spanish, and by being patient and realistic about language barriers.
Completely free. Everything we do is volunteer-run and free for students and families. No hidden fees, no “trial period,” no upsell.
Flexible and human. We work around school schedules, activities, and family life. If something isn’t working, we adjust — our goal is progress, not perfection.

Who We Serve

We welcome any student who:

Feels nervous speaking in front of others.
Needs extra help in English, Spanish, or Math.
Is learning in a language that isn’t spoken at home.
Wants to try debate or public speaking but doesn’t know where to start.

If that sounds like you or someone you know, we’d love to help.

Our Vision

Our vision is simple: a world where every student, no matter their background, can walk into a classroom, a club meeting, or a future job interview and think, “I know what to say — and I’m not afraid to say it.”

Speak Up Scholars is still growing, but we’re committed to keeping one promise: we will always be a place where students are heard, supported, and believed in.