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About Us

Speak Truth America brings together two leading organizations to help teachers build civic discourse.

Center for Inspired Teaching has taught over 50,000 teachers in urban, suburban, and rural school districts across the country how to instigate thought - to teach students to approach academic problems, social challenges, and other people from a place of curiosity and respect. We are:

  • The first nonprofit to certify public school teachers in Washington, DC through our Inspired Teacher Residency Program. 
  • The founders of a Tier One charter school that has taught over 4000 students. 
  • Trainers of more than 50,000 teachers across the United States, and in Ukraine, Myanmar, India, Thailand,Turkey, and many other places around the world.
  • Creators of an extensive library of award-winning teaching tools to build curiosity and critical thinking.

We have been teaching teachers for 28 years. Our resources and programs reflect the input of the teachers and students we serve.

Meridian Hill Pictures is a film production company grounded in the belief that people-centered narratives have the power to deepen our understanding of each other and to increase our capacity for reconciliation, relationship-building, and healing. 


For two decades, we have produced award-winning films that have engaged thousands of people across the country in critical conversations.

The 2021 film The First Step documents a rare story about cross-party coalition building. It makes a complex policy fight relatable through the personal stories of front-line advocates, placing viewers at the center of challenging conversations where people disagree directly and breakthroughs occur in real time. The First Step has been screened in 35 states in over 125 in-person screenings and been used as a resource for bridge-building/bipartisan initiatives.

Explore some of the resources we're bringing to the project:

Speak Truth Guidebook

Speak Truth Guidebook

Speak Truth Guidebook

Since 2015, Center for Inspired Teaching’s Speak Truth program has trained teachers to prepare high school students from all backgrounds to engage in student-led civic discourse on topics including: gentrification, voter suppression, consent, affirmative action, mental health, racism and bias, and cancel culture. The Speak Truth approach is documented in this Guidebook. 

Download a copy.

The First Step

Speak Truth Guidebook

Speak Truth Guidebook

Meridian Hill Pictures’ award-winning film The First Step is being screened in Speak Truth discussions during the 2023-2024 school year. Feedback from participants consistently includes comments like: “I think teens should be exposed to things like this, seeing people on both sides. Different perspectives on the issues at hand allowed us as a group to find common ground.”

Watch the trailer.

Copyright © 2024 Center for Inspired teaching - All Rights Reserved.


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