A January Update!
Thank you so much for your support of our work educating American high school students about the importance of the free society. This is the first monthly update for the Project you'll be receiving from yours truly, Director of the Dissident Project. I'm excited to share some updates from the past month!
Who am I?
Pitch day at Antigua Forum!
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, I am a member of the Musical Theatre class of 2018 at the University of Michigan and a proud Wolverine. I spent my first few years in New York as a professional actor for stage and screen. After COVID, I wanted to be a positive force for ideological change in the industry — enter Young Voices! In addition to leading the Dissident Project, I write theatrical reviews for the New York Sun.
The Dissident Project Takes on the Antigua Forum
I spent the week before last at the Antigua Forum, a gathering of political reformers, entrepreneurs and other experts, designed to harness human ingenuity and free enterprise to improve human well-being.
The Dissident Project was one of only 10 projects selected from around the world — a true sign of the promise the project has! Over three days, a group of experts from around the world work on the project and provide some game-changing suggestions into concrete action plans. I left ready to take the Dissident Project to the next level. We have some ambitious plans for 2023 — including new curriculum, branding, collaborations, and even…a new addition to the team. Stay tuned!
Recent Talks
Angesom with high schoolers in Pomona, California
Here’s a quick update on our progress for those of you who aren’t caught up: our dissidents have completed 20 speeches across the country, and are gearing up for a busy spring. In March, we’re adding 8 new speakers to our ranks from places like Hong Kong, China, Syria, Cuba, Zimbabwe and Iran.
The dissidents had a typically busy January. Angesom spoke to 80 homeschoolers in Pomona, CA. “People drove over an hour to listen,” said Amy Payne, educator and facilitator. “We had people driving from all over and changing their plans (even funerals) to attend.” He also shared his story with 20 educators at the non-profit Yes. Every Kid.
Jorge also pounded the pavement, sharing his story with multiple classes at Cypress Woods High School in Texas. February is a new — and busier — month, with four upcoming speeches on the books. The dissidents can’t wait to meet your students. That’s all for now!
