Soapbox Riverside

Project Soapbox is a public speaking showcase that calls young people to speak out on issues that affect them and their communities. Students across the district have crafted powerful speeches that can create lasting, transformative impact in the classroom.

Spring 2025

Soapbox Riverside @ the RUSD Civic Showcase - Riverside Convention Center

Fall 2024

Soapbox Riverside @ the Civil Rights Instiute Inland Southern California

Spring 2024

Soapbox Riverside @ the RUSD Civic Showcase - Riverside Convention Center

Fall 2023

Soapbox Riverside @ the Civil Rights Instiute Inland Southern California

Spring 2023

Soapbox Riverside @ the RUSD Civic Showcase - Riverside Municipal Auditorium

Fall 2022

Soapbox Riverside @ Poly High School

Spring 2022

Soapbox Riverside @ the RUSD Civic Showcase - Grant Education Center

Fall 2021

Soapbox Riverside @ Poly High School

2021-2022

Mikva Soapox Nation

2020-21

Virtual Project Soapbox

Soapbox Riverside at the RUSD Civic Showcase April 2025

Soapbox Riverside December 2024

MVI_4885.MP4

Opening Remarks

Emmanuel Pudussery

Air We Breathe: A Divide in Metropolitian N02 Levels

STEM High School

MVI_4887.MP4

Erin Park

The Importance of Musical Ensembles in Educational Settings

Martin Luther King High School

MVI_4889.MP4

Layla Gibson

Break the Silence: The Serious Need to Present Suicide

STEM High School

MVI_4891.MP4

Angel Buenrostro

Improvements in Health Care

John W. North High School

MVI_4893.MP4

Nayan Bhakta

Small Hands, Big Dreams: Learning Through Play

STEM High School

MVI_4895.MP4

Skylear Johnson

Social Media's Affect on the Recent Generation

Martin Luther King High School

MVI_4897.MP4

Ezichi Ojimaga

The Art of Overworking Yourself

John W. North High School

MVI_4899.MP4

Genevieve Younglove

Our World's Cultural Diversity is in Danger

STEM High School

MVI_4901.MP4

Abby Fausto

Artificiality vs. Authenticity: The Atrocities of AI

STEM High School

MVI_4903.MP4

Chloe Place

The Impact of Beauty Standards

Martin Luther King High School

MVI_4905.MP4

Closing Remarks

Soapbox Riverside 12.4.24.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to attend the event?

No, the event is free

Where can I park?

Students, families, community members and other attendees can find street parking or utilize a Downtown Riverside Parking Lot or Structure.
For more information, please visits the City of Riverside Downtown Parking Page and check out this press release and map provided by the city to see parking rates and areas.

What time are we able to tour the Civil Rights Institute?

Students, families, community members and other attendees are welcome to tour the space and exhibit from 4:30-5:00.

Soapbox Riverside at the RUSD Civic Showcase April 2024

Main Stage Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - Loneliness and Lack of Third Spaces for Teens Speech

RUSD Civic Showcase

Main Stage Soapbox Speech

Ella Bailey

Lonliness and the Lack of Third Places for Teens

STEM Academy

Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - Gender Equity in STEM Fields

Aubriana Ippolito

Gender Equity in STEM Fields

STEM Academy

Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - School Shootings

Nicholas Andrade

School Shootings

University Heights Middle School

Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - Self Harm

Julia Alvaro

Self Harm

University Heights Middle School

Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - Suicide

Jayleen Nava Gonzalez

Suicide

University Heights Middle School

Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - Euthanasia

Sam Miller

Euthanasia

University Heights Middle School

Speech at the RUSD Civic Showcase - Peace in Palestine

Mira Abu Taleb

Peace in Palestine

STEM Academy

Soapbox Riverside December 2023

00001.MTS

Johannah Bakhtiar

Stereotypes on Iranian-American Women

STEM High School

00003.MTS

Melissa Yepez Mojica

School Shootings

Chemawa Middle School

00006.MTS

Oscar Rivera

Bullying at School

Gage Middle School

00009.MTS

Ghazal Al-Satari

Smoking and Vaping at School

Chemawa Middle School

00012.MTS

Oleah Park

How Synthetic Biology Could Kill US All - Safely Using New Technolgy

STEM High School

00016.MTS

Kaylah Rios

Drunk Driving

Chemawa Middle School

00019.MTS

Samantha Torres

The Struggles Women Face Due to Sexism- Gender Discrimination

Chemawa Middle School

00023.MTS

Chase Mauldin

Effects of Short Form Content on the Youth

STEM High School

00023.MTS

Crystal Alvarez

Speaking for a Home - Homelessness in Riverside

John W North High School

00029.MTS

Carli Collins

My Car is Clean Enough

Martin Luther King High School

00032.MTS

Melody Moreno

Animal Abuse

Chemawa Middle School

00035.MTS

Reema Vace

The Transformative Power of Music on Cognitive Function

STEM High School

Soapbox Riverside 2022-2023

November 16, 2023 - Poly High School

2022-2023 Soapbox Riverside (11-16-22).m4v

Soapbox Riverside Student Speakers

Bayli Peck -Gage Middle School- Why Can't You Get A Job?
Valentin Rubio- Chemawa Middle School - Reckless Driving
Elizabeth Pudussery- University Heights Middle School - Gun Violence in the United States
Carla Gonzalez Escobar-University Heights Middle School - Racial Discrimination Against Latin Americans and How It Can Affect Poverty
Ava Szabo- Gage Middle School - The Bullying Crisis - Let's Make a Change
Jacob Orozco- STEM Academy - IHSS: Flawed Rules that Place Our Most Vulnerable at Risk
Norah Pham - STEM High School The Dangers of Peer Pressure
Aniayh Sega - Martin Luther King High School - The Effects of Poverty on Children
Josiah De Jesus - John W. North High School - Climate Change
Samantha Rodriguez- Poly High School - Sexual Assault
Marisa Garrett - Martin Luther King High School - The Challenges of Low Income AP Students
Sakari Pollard - John W. North High School Mental Health Effects of School Shootings
Isabel Pack - Martin Luther King High School - Eating Disorders of Athletes
Adrienne Osmena - STEM High School - LGBTQ+ Sex Ed Inclusivity
Erick Nunez - Abraham Lincoln High School- Poverty in Riverside
Eunice Santos- STEM High School - California's Complicity to Droughts

Special Thank You To:

Tess Reznick - Student MC
Jack Wong - Student MC
Ken Kanouse - Mikva Challenge RUSD Site Partner
R. Tolteka Cuahtin - Mikva Challenge CA Senior Director

Soapbox Riverside at the RUSD Spring Showcase 21-22

May 12, 2022 - Grant Education Center

Click HERE to view the Riverside Project Soapbox Spring 2022 Videos on the Mikva Vimeo Platform.

21-22 Civic Showcase - Soapbox Stage Full.mp4

21-22 Civic Showcase Spring Soapbox Stage

Soapbox Riverside Student Speakers

Aiden Pianalto - Earhart Middle School - Freedom is Not Free
Ryan Jacklin - STEM Academy - Climate Change, More Specifically Air Pollution
Madelyn Wilson - STEM Academy - Transgender rights and Representation
Ani Keshavan - STEM High School - Implicit Bias: Misogny in the Classroom
Alexa Gonzales - Martin Luther King High School - LValidation of Sexual Assualt Victims Experience
Ariana Meja - Martin Luther King High School - Disability Awareness
Ash Keshavan - STEM High School - Social Media and its Effects on Teens
Lily Quevedo -Martin Luther King High Schoool - The Awareness and Preventation of Domestic Sexual Violence in Youth Relationships
Jack Wang - STEM High School - Racism against Asian Americans
Abhi Reddy- STEM High School - Fast Fashion
Patricia Moon - STEM High School - My Asian American Experience

Special Thank You To:

Guest Host: Mia Salamone - Mikva Challenge NYC Partner Site Director
Ken Kanouse - Mikva Challenge RUSD Site Partner
R. Tolteka Cuahtin - Mikva Challenge CA Senior Director

Fall Soapbox Riverside 2021-2022

November 17, 2021 - Poly High School Amphitheater

Click HERE to view the Riverside Project Soapbox Fall 2021 Videos on the Mikva Vimeo Platform.

To watch the 2022 Soapbox Nation Mainstage Event, Featuring RUSD Student Koji Cephas, CLICK HERE.

Jacob Brusca.MP4

Jacob Brusca

Helping the Homeless

Gage Middle School

Ella Fortine.MP4

Ella Fortine

Effects of Profanity

Gage Middle School

Koji Cephas.MP4

Koji Cephas

Protect Voting Rights

STEM Academy

Leah Blanford.MP4

Leah Blanford

Gender Equality

STEM Academy

Erika Lee.MP4

Erika Lee

Immigrant Student Experiences

Martin Luther King High School

Kenny Survillas.MP4

Kenny Survillas

Veteran Depression and PTSD

Martin Luther King High School

Cindy Sanchez.MP4

Cindy Sanchez

Teenage Depression

Poly High School

Nuvia Garcia.MP4

Nuvia Garcia

Teen Suicide and Depression

Ramona High School

Veronica DeRuyter.MP4

Veronica DeRuyter

Reckless Driving

Martin Luther King High School

Sophia Farias.MP4

Sophia Farias

Impact of Habitat Destruction

Martin Luther King High School

Tess Reznick.MP4

Tess Reznick

Fast Fashion and Sustainability

STEM High School

Ria Barbaria.MP4

Ria Barbaria

Climate Change

STEM High School

Melina Granados.MP4

Melina Granados

End Hyper Sexualization of Women

Part 1

Poly High School

Melina Granados Part 2.MP4

Melina Granados

End Hyper Sexualization of Women

Part 2

Poly High School

Yesica Rafael.MP4

Yesica Rafael

Homework and Mental Health

Speech in Spanish

Ramona High School

Yesica Rafael - Spanish Translation.MP4

Yesica Rafael

Homework and Mental Health

Speech Translation

Ramona High School

Project Soapbox 2021-2022

To view Mikva's Soapbox Nation 2021- 2022 Vimeo Page, click HERE.

Project Soapbox 2020-21

VIEW THE VIDEOS BELOW AND MORE ON THE 2020- 2021 MIKVA CHALLENGE VIMEO PAGE.

TO WATCH THE 2021 SOAPBOX NATION MAINSTAGE EVENT, FEATURING RUSD STUDENT LONDON PERKINS, CLICK HERE.

Adwoa Appiah Boateng

Racism in America

STEM High School

Jocelyn Rafidi
Teen Community Center

Martin Luther King High School

London Perkins
Hostile Architecture

Martin Luther King High School

Emma Reeves
The Mental Price of Beauty

Martin Luther King High School

Molly Guzman
Indigenous Rights

Poly High School

My Nguyen
Sexual Assault

Ramona High School

Alexis Cueva
Your Passion

Poly High School

Brian Perlstein
Stop Holocaust Denial

STEM High School

Eamon Power
Relevance of Christianity

Martin Luther King High School

Kalista Rae Tibbels
Growing Up Mixed Race

Poly High School

Saira Catano
Mental Health

Poly High School

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