FOUNDER'S SPOTLIGHT

 Dr. Sylvia Cole:
I am Dr. Sylvia Cole, a speaker, best-selling author, radio host, educator, and Founder of the ONE VOICE Movement. At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to helping people recognize the power and value of their voice.

Through speaking, education, books, media, and the ONE VOICE Movement, I work to empower students, educators, leaders, and others to be seen, heard, and valued. My journey has shown me that one voice can encourage, influence, inspire, and even change the direction of someone’s life.

Today, my work is about creating platforms and opportunities where stories can be shared, voices can be amplified, and people can be reminded that who they are and what they have to say matters.

 Dr. Sylvia Cole:
The ONE VOICE Movement was inspired by my own life and by the people whose voices helped shape mine.

One of the most defining influences was my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Virgie Brown. More than 50 years ago, she saw something in me as a young student and spoke words of encouragement that stayed with me throughout my life. Her belief in me helped me understand how powerful one voice can be.

My mother’s life, faith, strength, and years of service as an educator also deeply influenced me. Through both of these women, I learned that words matter, encouragement matters, and being seen and valued can change the direction of a person’s life.

ONE VOICE grew from that truth. I wanted to create a movement that reminds students, educators, leaders, and everyday people that their voices have power—and that one voice, used with purpose, can create lasting impact.

 Dr. Sylvia Cole:
Yes. One of the most defining moments goes all the way back to the fifth grade.

My teacher, Mrs. Virgie Brown, saw something in me before I fully understood it myself. She encouraged me, affirmed me, and gave me opportunities to use my voice. Those moments planted seeds that stayed with me for decades.

As I grew older, I began to understand that what she gave me was more than encouragement. She gave me confidence, permission to speak, and a sense that my voice mattered.

That realization became even more powerful when I looked at the work I was doing as an educator, speaker, author, and radio host. I could see the same principle at work again and again: sometimes one word, one conversation, or one person believing in you can shift the course of your life.

That is when I truly understood that my voice was never meant to be kept to myself. It was meant to be used to encourage, empower, and help others recognize the power in their own voice.

Dr. Sylvia Cole:
Education taught me that impact is not always found in the biggest moments. Sometimes it is found in a conversation, a word of encouragement, a listening ear, or simply letting someone know that they matter.

As an educator, I learned to look beyond performance and see the person. Every student brings a story, a set of experiences, and a voice that deserves to be acknowledged. That perspective has shaped the way I lead today.

Whether I am speaking, writing, hosting my radio show, working with students, or developing ONE VOICE initiatives, I try to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Education also taught me the importance of consistency. People may not remember every lesson, but they often remember how you made them feel and whether you believed in them.

That is the kind of impact I want my work to have—an impact that continues long after the moment itself.

 Dr. Sylvia Cole:
Building a vision is rarely a straight path. There have been moments of uncertainty, disappointment, doors that did not open, ideas that had to be adjusted, and seasons when progress felt slower than I wanted.

What kept me going was understanding that purpose does not disappear just because the process becomes difficult.

I learned to keep building, keep evolving, and keep trusting what had been placed in me. I also learned that sometimes a “no,” a delay, or a setback is not the end of the vision—it may simply be redirecting the way the vision is supposed to unfold.

My faith, the encouragement of people who believed in me, and the impact I could see my work having on others reminded me to continue.

Today, I understand that resilience is not about never becoming discouraged. It is about continuing to move forward with purpose, even when the full picture has not yet come together.

Dr. Sylvia Cole:
Finding your voice means understanding who you are, recognizing the value of your experiences, and having the courage to use what you have been given.

For me, it is not simply about speaking. It is about knowing that your story, your perspective, and your presence matter.

There were seasons in my life when I was still discovering how all of my experiences connected to my purpose. Over time, I realized that finding your voice is an ongoing process. We grow, we learn, we evolve, and our voice becomes stronger as we become more confident in who we are called to be.

Today, finding my voice means using it intentionally—to encourage, to educate, to inspire, and to create opportunities for others to recognize the power of their own voice.

That is what ONE VOICE represents to me: not just having something to say, but understanding that your voice can make a difference.

Dr. Sylvia Cole:
My hope is that ONE VOICE becomes a reminder to people of all ages that their lives, experiences, and voices matter.

I want students to understand that they do not have to wait until adulthood to make an impact. I want educators to remember that the words they speak can stay with a student for a lifetime. I want leaders to recognize the responsibility they have to create environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

More than anything, I want ONE VOICE to create a ripple effect. When one person finds the courage to use their voice, it can give someone else permission to do the same.

If this movement can help people walk with greater confidence, speak with greater purpose, and use their voices to encourage and uplift others, then it will be doing exactly what I believe it was created to do.

Dr. Sylvia Cole:
I would tell them not to underestimate the power of their story or the value of what they have to say.

You do not have to have everything figured out before you begin. You do not have to wait until you feel completely confident. Sometimes courage begins with simply taking the first step and choosing to speak, share, or show up even when you are still growing.

Your voice may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Your experience may encourage someone who is walking through a similar season. Your words may remind another person that they are not alone.

I believe every voice carries purpose. So start where you are, use what you have, and trust that your voice can make a difference.

Your voice has power. Use it with purpose.