Amplify Program

Amplify is an initiative that offers you an opportunity to gain the skills, coaching and platform you need to share your knowledge and perspectives with a public audience. It’s a forum where you can take what you’re learning in an academic setting and use it to develop a public voice by experimenting with different media, including public writing, public speaking, multimedia and public art. Through events, workshops and one-on-one coaching and feedback, you’ll develop work that you’re proud to share with the world. The program culminates with a chance to submit your work to the Amplify Competition.

ZineFest

October 7, 2024

Join the Wurtele Center for Leadership and the Design Thinking Initiative for a day of learning about, exploring, and making zines!

Zines are hand-made, self-published booklets meant to educate and inspire action on issues that matter to the maker and their public(s).

Featured Zine Makers

Ebony Flowers

Cartoonist

Zinester

Assistant Professor of English at Wake Forest University

Photo credit: Cate Barry Photography

Shay Mirk

Comics journalist

Teacher

Prolific zine maker

Director of nonfiction comics press Crucial Comics

Mimi Nguyen

Old punk and feminist scholar

Zine maker

Associate Professor of Gender & Women’s Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Events

Panel Discussion & Zine Swap

Monday, October 7, 2024 | 12:15-1:15 p.m.

The Past, Present, and Future of Zines. Lunch provided. Open to students, faculty, staff.

Zine Workshop #1

Monday, October 7, 2024 | 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Sister Zines, with Ebony Flowers. For students only.

Zine Workshop #2

Monday, October 7, 2024 | 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Playing with Gender & Zines, with Shay Mirk. For students only.

Zine Workshop #3

Monday, October 7, 2024 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.

No One Turned Away for Lack of Future, with Mimi Nguyen. For students only.

The Amplify Competition

The Amplify Competition is an opportunity for Smith College students to share their knowledge, stories and perspectives in a public forum and a set of events designed to honor their efforts towards raising their voices to bring about positive change. The competition seeks to amplify students’ voices as they speak out about the issues that matter to them. The competition is open to all Smith students, and entries can be drawn from assignments completed for a course taken for credit, or a piece developed outside of a student’s coursework.

Prizes

Students may enter submissions in three categories: Public Speaking, Public Writing, and Public Art. All submissions will be published on a consolidated Amplify website, which will be accessible only within the Smith College community. Submissions will be entered to compete for prizes in each of the three categories plus a “People’s Choice” Award in each category. Prize winners will be announced in early February at an event on campus.

Public Speaking
Three prizes of $500
Public Writing
Three prizes of $500
Wild Card: Zines
Three prizes of $500
People’s Choice
$200 prize to one entry in each category

VISIT THE AMPLIFY COMPETITION PAGE

How Can I Stay Informed About All Things Amplify?

Send an email to wurtelecenter@smith.edu and ask to get signed up for our weekly newsletter, where you will find all of the information you need to know about Amplify as the program unfolds this year.

Get Involved

Watch for Amplify-related events and workshops in the Wurtele Center newsletter.
Keep an eye on the Smith Social Network to RSVP for Amplify events.
Explore the recordings from Amplify events from prior years in our Amplify Resources page to get inspiration and practical tips.
If you're taking a public voice-oriented course and are looking for coaching and feedback, reach out to us at wurtelecenter@smith.edu.
If you’re preparing a piece for the Amplify Competition, join us for skill building and feedback workshops during J-term.