🎤 Latest News: Lead The Way x Caroline Inspires Present “CTRL + ALT + SPEAK” – A Bold New Open Mic Series

June 11, 2025

We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Caroline Inspires to launch a powerful, three-part Open Mic series:

CTRL + ALT + SPEAK – where real stories are honored, creativity takes center stage, and community comes alive.

🌟 Summer 2025, we’re bringing something bold, necessary, and unapologetically created for young people. This isn’t just an Open Mic—it's a movement. A space that’s safe, brave, and rooted in realness, where youth voices are not only heard but celebrated.

Each event in the series features:

🎤 Professional guest artists

📸 On-site photographer and videographer – giving each youth performer high-quality footage to elevate their craft and build their portfolio

✨ A vibe of belonging, expression, and truth

🚀 Event Recap: CTRL + ALT + SPEAK Kickoff – June 11, 2025

The series launched with an unforgettable night of talent and authenticity. Highlights included:

🔹 Youth Feature: De'Mon Burse-Wilborn (Lead The Way’s own!) - 

🔹 Guest Performer: Cynthia Amoah - https://cynthiaamoah.com/  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-amoah

🔹 Event DJ: Dr. View - https://www.instagram.com/drview1/?hl=en - 

🔹 Host: Caroline Inspires - https://www.carolineinspires.com/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineinspiresbennett

From poetry to rhymes to raw truth-telling, these performers lit up the stage and set the tone for the entire series. We couldn’t have been more proud to witness this moment.

📅 Don’t Miss the Next One!

Next Open Mic Event:

🗓 July 9, 2025

📍 215 N Front St, Columbus, OH, 43215 (Parking Validation at 285 N Front St, Columbus, OH, 43215) 

⏰ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Come through. Speak truth. Be heard. CTRL + ALT + SPEAK is here—and it’s for YOU.