Host a speaker
Students learn what freedom costs from people who lost it.
The Dissident Project brings immigrants who escaped tyrannical regimes to American high school and college campuses for talks on freedom.
Recent Stages
Susquehanna University
Military Order of the World Wars
Foundation for Economic Education
Colorado Christian University
American Preparatory Academy
Artesia Public Schools
FIRE Soapbox 2026
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Brookfield Academy
About Us
The Dissident Project was launched in 2022 to bring a simple but powerful idea into American classrooms: students should hear directly from people who have lived under tyrannical regimes.
Many of our dissidents have experienced firsthand what happens when governments gain too much power. They grew up under regimes that controlled speech, restricted opportunity, and punished political dissent. Some were activists, some were refugees, and some were forced to leave their home countries in search of freedom.
We started the Dissident Project because these stories matter.
Too often, students learn about political systems only in theory. They hear about socialism, communism, and authoritarian government in textbooks, but rarely from people who actually lived under those systems.
When we visit classrooms, we share our experiences directly with students. We talk about censorship, economic collapse, political repression, and the struggle for freedom. Students are able to ask questions, engage with real stories, and see how the ideas they study in school affect real people’s lives.
Together, we are working to help the next generation understand the value of freedom and the consequences of losing it.
36,000+ Students Reached
206 speeches delivered
31 States Visited
Colorado Christian University (Summer 2026)
Gabriela Blanco, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (Summer 2026)
The Young Voices team & the Dissident Project's speaker class of 2026-2027.
Frances Hui, Concordia University Wisconsin (Spring 2026)
American Preparatory Academy, Draper, UT (Fall 2025)
Grace Jo and Daniel Chang Contreras, PY Foundation (Fall 2026)
Pouya Nikmand (Fall 2026)
Student attendees at Liberty University (Spring 2026)
Frances Hui, Colorado Christian University (Summer 2026)
Grace Jo with the students of Liberty University (Spring 2026)
Inviting a speaker takes three steps
1.
Tell us about your audience
Share your school or group, the size of the audience, and your preferred dates.
2.
We match you with a speaker
We suggest dissident speakers whose stories fit your students, your curriculum, and your calendar.
3.
Your students hear it firsthand
Your dissident speaker visits, talks, and answers questions. We handle the preparation with you.
What a visit includes
A personal talk
A dissident who lived under tyrannical rule, speaking for 30 minutes.
Open Q&A
Remaining time available for students to ask questions on what they learned.
Meet and greet
The dissident speaker can chat with educators and students & share educational resources like websites, videos, and readings.
Frequently asked questions
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Our team will review, evaluate, and get back to you via email with next steps.
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We will go over logistics and our expectations. Afterward, we will introduce you to the dissident speaker to coordinate on speech content and presentation materials. We trust you and your institution to plan a successful, well-attended student event. Professional photography is welcome at all Dissident Project events!
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Each of the dissidents has a unique story about his or her upbringing and experiences, what led him/her to leave for the United States, and lessons to share with American students. You can expect to learn what censorship looks like in practice, what economic collapse feels like in daily life, how authoritarian governments maintain control, and why freedom and limited government matter.
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It costs the Dissident Project about $2,500 to send a speaker across the country to visit high schools, colleges, and universities. We appreciate any contributions to assist our partners in our mission.
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Applications for our 2026-2027 speaker class are now closed. Feel free to email info@joinyv.org to inquire about future opportunities.
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Unfortunately, we do not serve other locations at this time. We do allow applicants from other anglophone countries for our Contributor Program (i.e. Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom).
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None whatsoever! We have and always will offer our programs for free to our participants. Young Voices is supported through the generosity of our donors.
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The Young Voices Dissident Project is grounded in the classical liberal principles of free markets, individual liberty, human dignity, and military restraint in foreign affairs. We support diplomatic engagement and cooperation with other nations. Our content is centered around promoting speech, enterprise, and innovation. We take a big-tent approach to coalition building, so we welcome working with people who identify with all sorts of labels, so long as their beliefs are rooted in classical liberal principles.
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Young Voices is a nonprofit talent agency for classical liberal writers, creators, and commentators ages 18-35. Our mission is to discover, develop, and deploy influential voices for freedom. We offer media placements, policy fellowships, and mentorships for young professionals in North America and Europe. With 800+ alumni, Young Voices is building paths to fulfilling careers in public policy-related fields. You can learn more at joinyv.org.
speaker invitations
Would you like to invite a dissident speaker? Submit the form on the left.
Need further help?
Email us at info@joinyv.org.