The ideas behind VOX Teen Communications — engaging  teens in writing and publishing about their lives and communities — began more than 30 years ago in Chicago high schools. Teachers there began inviting students to write stories about the issues that were most important to them. Such hands-on teaching techniques helped teens improve their reading and writing skills, as well as helped them realize that their voices mattered.

More than a decade later, in 1989, the United States Supreme Court ruled that high schools can censor student newspapers, one of the few places where youth voices could be heard. Teens across the country responded by forming independent, uncensored, large-circulation publications with the help of adults. Since then, the concept has spread and now successfully engages youth in communities including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Atlanta.

The first edition of VOX, published 18 years ago, reached about 12,000 teens, teachers and parents. Today, the VOX newspaper reaches 90,000 readers at more than 300 local high schools and community-based organizations. The VOX blog and website allow teens to reach even more of their peers.

Over the past two decades, VOX has grown into a powerful community resource, with more than 100 teens actively involved each year, supported by adult staff and dozens of adult volunteers. Teen staff members represent six metro Atlanta counties and more than 40 different metro-area schools.

But some fundamental things have not changed. Just as in 1993, at VOX teens gain life-long skills in communications, technologies, leadership and service.

The organization is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors comprised of business and civic leaders, as well as teen participants. In 2005, the Board decided to change the name of the organization from Youth Communication: Metro Atlanta to VOX Teen Communications to better use the well-known name of our primary program and to increase knowledge of our organization around the community.