by MJ Bridges | Apr 15, 2026 | Career, Classroom, Programming, Students
For Financial Literacy Month, we sat down with MJ Bridges, founder of Young & Debt Free, following a recent community event in Racine that brought his work to life in a powerful way. In collaboration with a weekly karaoke night at Kings Kitchen & Cocktail, MJ...
by Carlos Ojeda Jr. | Mar 2, 2026 | Classroom, Professional Development, Programming, Programs, Student Engagement, Students, Summer
At CoolSpeak, we’ve learned something important after working with hundreds of schools, districts, and community partners: Not all summer camps are created equal. Some camps keep students busy. Others change the direction of a young person’s life. CoolSpeak CEO,...
by Natasha Carrizosa | Feb 24, 2026 | Classroom, Professional Development, Student Engagement, Students
At CoolSpeak, we believe engagement starts with connection. Before strategies, before outcomes, before the lesson plan even begins, there’s a feeling we create in the room to inspire creativity. For poet, educator, and spoken-word artist Natasha “natty” Carrizosa,...
by Ernesto Mejía | Jan 28, 2026 | Classroom, Family Engagement, Professional Development, Student Engagement
As a new year and semester begin, schools often take time to reflect on priorities, practices, and goals. Educators and leaders look for ways to strengthen engagement, improve outcomes, and better support students. Yet despite renewed intentions, many schools rely on...
by Lamarr Womble | Dec 2, 2025 | Classroom, Programming, Student Engagement, Student Leadership, Students
At CoolSpeak, we meet student leaders everywhere, from packed auditoriums to small after-school clubs, and no matter the setting, one truth always stands out: leadership isn’t about having a title, it’s about learning how to take ownership of your own path. That’s why...
by Laura Rizo | Dec 1, 2025 | Classroom, Social Emotional Learning, Student Engagement, Student Leadership, Students
Bullying isn’t “kids being kids.” Bullying happens when someone is repeatedly unkind or hurtful on purpose, especially when there’s a power imbalance. Even the most supportive and attentive educators can’t see everything, which means the students who witness bullying...
