ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
At Project SPEAKS, Inc., we place an emphasis on providing students with additional academic support through educational workshops and tutoring, as well as resources to promote and increase academic success. We also strive to provide the community with trainings and workshops to increase their skills and awareness on a variety of topics.
Academic Services
The B.L.A.C.K. Conference
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In response to the negative depictions of Black people and all things surrounding Blackness, Project SPEAKS is organizing a conference aiming to celebrate, uplift, and represent all forms of Blackness in a positive manner while also providing resources and increasing awareness of the issues and concerns Black people face in different aspects of society.
Expected date: 2027
Academic Workshops and Courses
Project SPEAKS, Inc. strives to create workshops and programs that are accessible to the entire community. Providing quality and informative workshops are necessary components in increasing awareness and developing useful skillsets for community members. Various workshop topics are offered, including self-awareness/identity, enhancing group dynamics, self-reflective journaling, empowerment, and many more.
Scholarships and Awards
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As a non-profit organization primarily focused on supporting marginalized and underrepresented populations, Project SPEAKS, Inc. is well aware of the financial hardships that these communities face. Through financial support, we hope to help open doors to students from low-income families by eliminating the financial barriers preventing access to education.
Academic Workshops and Courses
Project SPEAKS, Inc. and its partners aim to create content and resources based on the needs of the communities being served. Various workshop topics are offered, including self-awareness/identity, enhancing group dynamics, self-reflective journaling, empowerment, and many more. Other workshop topics include conflict management, leadership, social justice, and advocacy.
If there is a topic, not listed below, that you would like us to create a workshop around, or if you would like additional information on a workshop topic, please email us at wearespeaks@gmail.com
*All workshops offered are provided based on request.
Topics include but not limited to:
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Enhancing Group Dynamics
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Leadership Seminar: Foundations to Leadership
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Self-Reflective Journaling
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Rhyme and Reason: Critical Pedagogy of Expressive Art
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Self-Awareness and Identity
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Community Engagement and Empowerment
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Identity Expression and Development
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Staff Development and Encouraging Professional Growth
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Understanding Your Role as a Housing Professional
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Social and Cultural Competency
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Embracing Allyship: Building a Foundation for Care
For workshop descriptions, please contact wearespeaks@gmail.com
Recent Workshop Highlights:
Students from Mt. SAC Upward Bound pictured with Project SPEAKS staff, during a leadership workshop presentation. 2026.
Founder and CEO Jakeel Harris leading an educational workshop for Student Affairs Staff at CSULB. 2026
Founder and CEO Jakeel Harris presenting at the United Black Student Conference (UBSC) at MiraCosta College. 2025
Founder and CEO Jakeel Harris leading an housing and residential life workshop for Upward Bound Students at Mt.SAC. 2022
Founder and CEO, Jakeel Harris performing for the United Black Student Conference. 2025.
Founder and CEO Jakeel Harris with the Black Student Athlete Association after an educational workshop at CSULB. 2025
Students from Allan Hancock College's Poetry and Prose Club pictured with Project SPEAKS staff, after a poetry workshop. 2024.
Students from Long Beach City College Upward Bound pictured with Project SPEAKS staff, after a mental health presentation. 2023.
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Founder Jakeel Harris leading an educational workshop for Upward Bound students at Pasadena City College. 2019
Academic Courses
Leading With Empathy: Leadership Course
Everything We Are: Life Through Expressive Art
Project SPEAKS, Inc. Program Outcomes
Outcome 1: Those who participate in Project SPEAKS’ programs will develop an increased connection and engagement in relation to their institution, group, or organization, as demonstrated through…..
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Identifying their comfort with recurring programs/events
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Recognizing their sense of connectedness to their program, organization, or group
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Demonstrating collaboration skills in a group and identifying the different roles and responsibilities within effective teams
Outcome 2: Participants will develop skills needed to navigate complex issues, as demonstrated through……
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Evaluating their ability to engage with politically and socially divisive topics and issues
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Practice of listening to and engaging in other points of view and perspectives
Outcome 3: Participants in will deepen their understanding and broaden their perspectives, as demonstrated through…
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Articulating new knowledge around others’ identities or their own
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Describing how a new understanding has impacted their perspective
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Developing deeper relationships based on shared life experiences or similar identities
Leading With Empathy: Certificated Leadership Competency Series
Project SPEAKS' offers a certificated Leadership Fundamentals course that provides activities, workshops, and presentations centered around different topics of leadership. Topics include: Identity, Leadership Awareness, Effective Communication, Emotional Intelligence, and much more!
The course was developed through the lens of Leading with Empathy. To Founder and CEO Jakeel Harris, empathy is a vital part of leadership competency. Without empathy, those who consider themselves leaders will have difficulty building rapport, trusting others, and navigating our ever-diversifying and changing world. Part of leading with empathy involves working to understand the needs of other people and needs of oneself.
Though we can only empathize as far as our privilege allows us to, we must create an environment with care as the foundation of what we do and promote. While we won't understand or resonate with every experience that someone is navigating, we can do our part in understanding the needs that require support or resources, and do our best to provide assistance, as much as our capacity allows us to.
The course focuses on fostering and developing leadership skills. Through multimedia analysis, participant-led discussions, and guided activities, participants will develop a fundamental understanding of leadership and its application in today’s society. This course is a 4-6 week series that is offered by topic or as an entire course.
Everything We Are: Life Through Expressive Art
This expressive arts course focuses on and encourages participants to explore personal identity, community, and social issues through a creative process and practice. Using a variety of mediums—including poetry, music, drawing, collage, and mixed media—participants will reflect on their own experiences and connect them to broader social themes such as identity, mental health, inequality, and other current social concerns or global issues. Through guided discussions and hands-on learning through art, participants will develop and explore a deeper connection with themselves, their lived experiences and the perspective of others. The course emphasizes process over perfection, encouraging experimentation, self-reflection, and respectful dialogue.
*The course emphasizes discussion and participant engagement