We.APP (We Act. Present. Perform)

We.APP (We Act. Present. Perform.) is a public speaking organization that provides in-school programming to 4 schools in South and West Seattle. Presently, we are the only public speaking program offered as an elective and language arts class in Seattle Public Schools. Our vision is to ensure that young scholars who are silent in the back of a classroom are inspired to break their silence to become the leaders in the front of the class.

Our main objective for We.APP YAA (Young Artist Academy) is to be an integral part of what schools provide to bridge that engagement and opportunity gap. Our strategy incorporates integrating public speaking and performance art to reengage students in their reading, writing, and listening process. By teaching students to expand vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and ability to collaborate, students increase their ability to self-direct, adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, and speak with purpose as it relates to school and home. All these things contribute to a child’s ability to focus and stay engaged in their learning process as it relates to the classroom, home, and self-exploration.