They tried to silence you. We won’t.
People flee authoritarian governments. Looking at news over the past year, one can see why. The Iranian government killed thousands of protesters who were speaking out for more freedom. Russia continued its war of aggression against Ukraine and its people. China prosecuted more Hong Kong pro-democracy activists under the umbrella of its “national security.” Although these examples of authoritarianism vary in degree and lethality, all of them violate the values of individual liberty and human dignity. Those affected try to accommodate their oppressors and stay in their home countries while others leave to find a better life in the United States. Many who come here use their newfound freedom to speak out against the governments that tried to immiserate them; they want to protect their new lives in the States and to keep out the ideologies and systems that ruined their home countries.
The Dissident Project exists to discover and amplify these advocates of freedom. We know that when Americans hear their stories firsthand, they understand what freedom is actually worth. We connect immigrants who have fled authoritarianism with American audiences through speeches, TV appearances, and online media.
Dissidents in action—Shay Khatiri, Gabriela Blanco, and Grace Jo.
American audiences are hungry for these stories—and they've never been easier to share.
For example, take Gabriela “Gaby” Blanco, a Cuban dissident who gives audiences a unique, first-hand account of the craziness of Castro’s Cuban communism. Gaby lived through food shortages where her family would often go hungry so she could eat the little food that remained. The government sent her and her classmates to boarding schools to separate them from their parents and to indoctrinate them in communist values. Gaby and her family couldn’t plan for their own survival past the day-to-day. It was an endlessly unpredictable living environment with little room for error. Eventually, Gaby fled Cuba at age 12 with her family to build a new life in America. Now she is living a peaceful life, raising her family, and speaking to Americans about how we can orient ourselves and our society toward liberty and justice.
There are more people with stories like Gaby’s who have yet to find a platform. We want to find them and give them one.
Today, we're opening applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. If you've escaped authoritarianism and built your life here in the U.S., we want to hear from you. As a Dissident Project member, you'll speak at universities, high schools, and conferences; write op-eds for local and national publications; build your social media presence through video and text; and reach millions through broadcast and podcast opportunities.
We're especially looking for voices that can reach young Americans—people who are digitally fluent, comfortable on camera, and willing to tell their stories to audiences ready to listen.
The application is due by June 28 at 11:59 PM EDT. Email me at alexander@joinyv.org if you have any questions.
You survived a regime that tried to silence you; join us. Your story deserves to be heard. Apply below.
