Sacramento Area Youth Speaks
A Leadership Cohort Organization
Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS) is an innovative critical literacy program. SAYS services support the improvement of schools through teacher professional development, classroom instruction, and after-school programming. At the core of our model is a commitment to equity—SAYS utilizes evidence-based best practices to narrow the achievement gap.
SAYS engages in three domains of work, all centered around the empowerment of students, teachers, and families. First, SAYS trains poet-mentor educators from the neighborhood to work alongside teachers and after-school providers, building a critical bridge between the community and the school site. Second, SAYS provides direct instruction to students (helping youth write and share their stories). Third, SAYS conducts large-scale professional development both in and out of the classroom through our residency programs and training of SAYS “Write Now” teacher leaders.
Contact Information
Sacramento Area Youth Speaks
One Shields Avenue, 183 Mrak Hall
Davis CA, 95616