S.P.E.A.K., the Peoples Mic
S.P.E.A.K. (Social Platform for Expression, Art & Knowledge) is more than an open mic it's a movement. It's a space to vibe, voice our truths, and uplift the community. We're here to create, to listen, to hold space for each other. It's all love over here so don't bring no funny mess. Everybody gets their time, their moment, their chance to speak their piece.
This is for the culture.
And honestly, USC is missing a space like this. There aren't many places on campus where creatives can be truly vulnerable and share their work not in a way that feels raw, unfiltered, and free from judgment. Sure, we have structured arts programs, showcases, and curated exhibitions, but where's the space where you can just be? Where you can test out something new, stumble, and still feel seen and supported? Creativity thrives in spaces where it's nurtured, not just polished for a final product. That's what S.P.E.A.K. is about.
It doesn't matter if you're an artist by profession or passion if you've got something to say, this space is for you. Maybe you want to drop a poem, share a song, tell a story, or just talk about what's on your heart. Maybe you've never performed before, but you feel like now is the time.
This is your mic.
And this is what we're missing a space to be fearless. Too often, we hesitate. We shrink. We compare. We think, they're better than me or what if no one cares? But comparison is the thief of joy. And S.P.E.A.K. isn't about competition it's about witnessing each other, celebrating each other, and growing together.
I want people to walk in and not know what's about to happen, to feel the rush of possibility, to leave inspired and full. Because when we share, when we express, when we create without fear - that's when we really connect. And connection? That's how we save the world.
So pull up. Say what you need to say.
Let's S.P.E.A.K.
Why I started S.P.E.A.K.
I've always been creative at heart. I thrive off of it - it's how I process, how I connect, how I exist. As I've moved through different creative spaces, I've noticed something undeniable - there's an unspoken language between artists. When you see someone in their element, creating purely from their soul, you feel it in your body. Even if their style, their medium, or their message is nothing like yours, you recognize that fire in them because you carry it in yourself too. It's powerful. And it's something I've been missing.
I remember being part of an open mic, just watching, listening, taking it all in. And it hit me - we need more spaces like this. Spaces where people aren't just scrolling through creativity on their phones, where they're actually creating, engaging, and connecting. Because yes, digital spaces give us access to so much art, but if you're just consuming and not contributing, what are you really experiencing?
That's why I started S.P.E.A.K.