The Backstory!

In December of 2020, the Michigan Economic Justice Alliance graduated 55 change agents from their 2020 fellowship program. Many of the graduates were determined to not only stay in contact with the Alliance and their fellow graduates, but to continue building a strong platform for Economic Justice across the state.
They decided to continue to develop their leadership skills and to focus special attention on their ability to deliver powerful and impactful speeches to audiences across the globe.

The 2020 graduating class of the Michigan Economic Justice fellowship set out to charter their first Toastmasters International Club, Justice Speaks!

In May of 2021, with a total of 20 founding members and an array of participants, Justice Speaks! became an officially chartered Toastmasters International Club.

What is Toastmasters International?

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 364,000 in more than 16,200 clubs in 145 countries.

Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.

Members of Toastmasters International have the opportunity to:

Founding Members of Justice Speaks!

Justice Speaks! was founded by graduates of the Michigan Economic Justice Fellowship of 2020. Founding members include:

• Deniqua Robinson – President
• Rhonda Askew – Vice President of Membership
• Victoria Bernett – Vice President of Public Relations
• Jaime Junior – Vice President of Education
• Clara Blakely – Immediate Past President
• Aisha Wells – Sergeant at Arms
• Oriana Powell – Treasurer
• Lacy Dawson – Secretary
• Barbara Burden – Member
• Dr. Joyce Ellis McNeal – Member
• Joelena Freeman – Member
• Gina Luster – Member
• Janlynn Miller – Member
• Theresa Mitchell – Member
• Rochella Steward – Member
• Lakisha Troup – Member
• Janel Williams – Member
• Shandelier Yarn – Member
• Katrece Jones – Member
• Kea Matthis – Member

Justice Speaks! The Goals!

The club has set and is determined to meet the following goals within its first year of existence.

• Be a very proactive space for activist and organizer to increase their leadership abilities through increased confidence in their public speaking skills.
• Increase membership by 25%.
• Support members in competing in no less than 3 Toastmasters International speaking competitions.
• Keep an active membership of no less than 20 members.
• Become a Toastmasters International Club of Distinction during the first year of existence.

What is a Distinguished Toastmaster Club?

In order to be considered as a Distinguished Club, Justice Speaks! must strive to achieve 10 goals as designated by Toastmasters International. Those goals include having a minimum of 20 active member, having a set number of members complete specific education levels, completing club officer trainings, and adhering to specific administrative duties.

Justice Speaks!

Meeting Schedule

• 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month
• Executive Team Meeting 6:00pm – 6:55pm
• Toastmasters Session 7:00pm -8:45pm