Our History
We are grateful for all of the educators and students whose dedication, insights, stories, and constructive feedback make Power Up, Speak Out! a vital and effective program.
Power Up, Speak Out! was launched in 2012 through the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the O.P. & W.E. Edwards Foundation, the Oro Y Plata Foundation, several other foundations and individual donors. We’d like to extend a special thanks to Jo Ann Eder, Chair of the O.P. & W.E. Edwards Foundation. She believed in the potential of Power Up, Speak Out! before we did, and has provided encouragement throughout its development. We are so grateful for her amazing support.
Allison Smith-Estelle, PhD directed the initial phase of the project and is the primary author. Educator Maureen Kampfe crafted the program to be developmentally appropriate and in line with educational standards.
Montana educators informed many of the revisions to this edition. We are so grateful for their counsel, insight, and commitment. Special thanks to Kelly McGuire and Mary Furlong at the Missoula County Healthy Relationships Project and the Mineral County Healthy Relationships Project, and Wendy McGourty at SAFE in the Bitterroot for their commitment to making our classrooms and communities safer places for our youth.
We are grateful for all of the educators and students whose dedication, insights, stories, and constructive feedback make Power Up, Speak Out! a vital and effective program.
Thank you all for helping middle school students navigate their relationships so that we may work toward a future free from violence.
