Unspoken Youth Dialogue was founded in July 2026 by Angelise Benimadho, a sophomore at Wesleyan University studying Government and minoring in Civic Engagement.
During her first year at Wesleyan, Angelise began to recognize a difficult truth: although democracy is meant to represent everyone, not everyone experiences that promise equally. As a student at a predominantly white institution, she saw firsthand that access to education was only part of the challenge. The representation of seeing people who shared your lived experiences in positions of leadership and influence was just as essential.
While serving on the Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Wesleyan Student Assembly, Angelise worked to advocate for more inclusive policies and support for underrepresented students. That experience made it clear that the barriers facing Black and Brown students extended far beyond a single campus. Across the country, many young individuals of color lack the opportunities, resources, and spaces to engage meaningfully with civic life and see themselves as leaders.
Simultaneously, ongoing immigration enforcement actions, political polarization, and persistent inequities affecting Black and Latine communities reinforced the need for spaces where young individuals could build community, strengthen their civic knowledge, and have their voices heard.
From that vision, Unspoken Youth Dialogue was born.
Unspoken Youth Dialogue is creating a civic home where Black and Brown youth can explore government, deepen their understanding of public policy and social justice, develop leadership skills, and discover their power to shape the systems that impact their communities. By investing in the next generation of changemakers, we are working toward a future where every individual knows their voice matters, and has the tools and confidence to make it heard.
Unspoken Youth Dialogue 