blog
News and updates from the Dissident Project.
Learn More About Our New Dissident Speakers
Last month, we concluded the interview process for the 2026-2027 class of Dissident Project speakers. We have welcomed six new speakers from Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and Egypt to advance our digital-first strategy by sharing their stories and their unique perspectives on current events in the States. We’re excited to get to work!
Reporters Risk their Lives in the Middle East
Objective journalism cannot thrive where authoritarian influence and non-state groups dictate the flow of information.
Exciting Updates: New Dissident Speakers Coming Soon!
It has been an eventful summer for Dissident! We wrapped up our summer speaking engagements this month and focused on vetting our new incoming cohort of dissident talent. We’re making selections now and are excited to share news about our growing roster in the weeks to come. Updates from August below!
Colorado, California, Vegas: Dissident Speakers on the Move
Summer break is for students — not for our dissident speakers! From a Colorado ballroom to the Reagan Library to the Vegas Strip, our speakers are crisscrossing the country to share their experiences with tyranny and their appreciation for freedom with audiences across the nation.
Combating Communism with Frances Hui
Despite the Hong Kong government’s attempts to issue a HK$1 million bounty for her arrest, alleging in 2023 that she “incited secession” and “colluded with foreign forces,” Frances Hui continues her work to defend freedom in Hong Kong.
Our Dissident Awarded — June Update from the Dissident Project
Frances Hui earned the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation’s Dissident Human Rights Award last week for her advocacy for the people of Hong Kong in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party.
End-of-Semester Update and Talent Applications
In April alone, Dissident Project speakers reached over 2,700 students in classrooms across America, sharing their firsthand stories of censorship, communism, and oppression.
They tried to silence you. We won’t.
We’ve opened applications to the next class of Dissident Project talent. Click here to apply!
Spring Into the Latest with Dissident Project Speeches & Media
Grace Jo kicked off our spring season with a 3-day marathon of talks in front of 430 high school students across Nicholasville, Kentucky. Students were intrigued with Grace’s outlining of the history and impact of the Korean War.
Dissident Project has a New Program Manager!
Alexander Norton III—I’m taking this opportunity to introduce myself as the Dissident Project’s new Program Manager. I’m grateful to contribute to Young Voices mission by leading the Dissident Project as we develop a roster of liberty storytellers who are recognized public voices in the fight for freedom.
From Venezuela to Iran: The Dissident Project is Breaking Reach Records
January was the biggest month for media in the Dissident Project's history! Responding to the breaking news about Nicolas Maduro's arrest, Daniel Di Martino reached over 5 million people through multiple major TV appearances, op-eds, and earned media, shaping the national conversation about Venezuela.
Boo! October Updates at the Dissident PRoject…
October has brought a string of spooky happenings over at the Dissident Project — not the kind that comes with candy, but the kind that tries to suppress our speakers. From new rounds of censorship to targeted punishments against brave dissidents, this month has reminded us that authoritarianism doesn’t take a holiday.
May Updates!
Happy June — summer is officially here! While schools wind down and eager graduates look to the future, the Dissident Project is taking a moment to look back on a groundbreaking 2024–2025 academic year.
The Dissident Project Media Fellowship
I am thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter for the Dissident Project, a project dedicated to amplifying the voices of immigrants who have fled tyrannical regimes. Since we launched programs in 2022, Young Voices has sponsored over 140 live talks before high schools before 25,000 students.
April Updates!
It’s your favorite Program Associate, with a fresh update from the last month’s activities at the Dissident Project. May is officially here, and we are wrapping up the 2024-25 school year in strong form.
Khatiri, National Review: Khamenei’s Last Hope
Khatiri in National Review: Why Iran is desperate to go nuclear
BLANCO: Cuba and the Vatican Deal in the Face of U.S. Elections
During the last week of Biden’s presidency, the Vatican negotiated the removal of Cuba from the terrorism sponsors list in yet another example of its long-standing relationship with the Cuban dictatorship. It’s time for the Church to stop whitewashing the regime and finally take a firm stand against the ongoing violations of human and religious rights.
The Dissident Project and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute: A Powerful New Collaboration
We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration between The Dissident Project and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute. This partnership marks a significant moment in our mission to share the stories of those who have lived through authoritarian regimes and fought for the values of freedom, democracy, and individual rights.
Happy New Year from the Dissident Project!
What a year it’s been — we completed 33 speeches in the Fall, surpassing last year’s count by seven speeches, and impacted over 5,000 students face to face.
This Venezuelan Activist Has Spent Four Months In Captivity For Challenging Maduro’s Regime
A fearless Venezuelan activist live-streamed her abduction by Maduro’s oppressive government, which detained her without charges after she exposed the state’s human rights abuses, sparking international protests and a fight for her freedom.