Beyond the Story: Reclaiming the Narrative

Help Voices That Matter Reach the People Who Need to Hear Them.

VOICE is a professionally produced live speaker experience featuring established leaders, emerging voices, and a youth changemaker. The pilot event will take place Saturday, December 5th, 2026, at The Capri in Minneapolis, with North High School Principal Mauri Friestleben serving as the keynote speaker.

Get Tickets Request the Sponsorship Package Schedule a Sponsorship Conversation Apply to Become a Speaker Apply as a Vendor
Produced by PUSH The Network · Media by Black Gift Media · Capri Theatre · Minneapolis, Minnesota · Saturday, December 5th, 2026 · 6pm · 250-Seat Capacity
What VOICE Is

A stage built to turn lived experience into ideas the whole world hears.

VOICE is a live talk series that transforms lived experience and hard-won expertise into stage-ready presentations. Every speaker is prepared, produced, and amplified so the ideas that deserve a room actually reach one.

The craft behind the stage — professional preparation, before a word is spoken.
What every speaker receives
  • 01

    Professional coaching

    Guided development from experienced presentation coaches.

  • 02

    Individual message development

    One-on-one shaping of a clear, resonant talk.

  • 03

    Full-group rehearsal

    Live run-throughs that sharpen delivery and timing.

  • 04

    Professional stage production

    Lighting, sound, and staging built for the moment.

  • 05

    Professional photo & video

    Professional photo and video production is planned for the VOICE experience. Final speaker media deliverables will be confirmed before the event.

  • 06

    Continued digital reach

    Distribution that keeps ideas moving after the lights go down.

The Problem

Great Ideas Should Not Be Limited by Access to a Stage.

Too many powerful stories never reach a wider audience — not for lack of substance, but for lack of coaching, production, media exposure, and an established platform. This year's theme, Reclaiming the Narrative, is VOICE's answer: putting the mic back in the hands of the people closest to the story.

The Structure Your Name Stands Next To

Four voices. One night. A stage engineered for impact.

4
Speakers
on Stage
1Keynote Voice
2Supporting Voices
1Youth Voice
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KeynoteBy Invitation Only

Meet Our Keynote: Mauri Friestleben

Mauri Friestleben is the principal of North High School and a respected Twin Cities educator and community leader. Her student-centered leadership and work in North Minneapolis were featured in the documentary Love Them First: Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary.

As the inaugural VOICE keynote speaker, she represents the courageous, community-rooted leadership the platform was created to elevate — and embodies this year's theme, Reclaiming the Narrative.

Speaker Opportunities

Become a VOICE Speaker

Selected speakers must submit a complete first draft before their first coaching session. The draft may still require refinement, but it must include a clear beginning, middle, conclusion, central message, supporting stories, and intended audience takeaway. Ground-up speechwriting is not included in the standard package.

Supporting Speaker
Supporting Speaker Package
Investment: $1,255

Two supporting speaker opportunities are available for the pilot event.

  • Live event participation
  • Three individual virtual coaching hours
  • One two-hour in-person group rehearsal
Apply to Become a Speaker
Youth Voice
Youth Speaker Package
Investment: $500

One youth speaker opportunity is available for the pilot event.

  • Live event participation
  • Three individual virtual coaching hours
  • Two-hour group rehearsal
Apply to Become a Speaker
By Invitation
Keynote Speaker
By Invitation

The keynote speaker does not pay a participation fee.

  • Selected by invitation
  • Featured stage placement
  • Full production support
Meet the Inaugural Keynote
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Official Speaker Coach

Meet the Official VOICE Speaker Coach: Ilona Parunakova

Ilona Parunakova is a TEDx speaker, author, international presenter, leadership coach, and public-speaking professional with more than two decades of nonprofit leadership and personal-development experience.

Each of the four VOICE speakers receives three individual virtual coaching hours with Ilona and one two-hour in-person group rehearsal she leads. Her base coaching helps speakers improve:

  • Speech structure
  • Delivery and stage presence
  • Confidence
  • Message clarity
  • Timing
  • Audience connection
  • Overall presentation

Speakers are expected to arrive with a topic, message, or working draft. Ground-up speech development is available as an additional service.

Beyond the base VOICE package, Ilona may offer speakers optional branding and visibility services, including interview opportunities, author and book-development opportunities, personal-brand positioning, media exposure, storytelling and message development, and additional private coaching.

These optional services are offered separately from the base VOICE speaker package and may require an additional investment.

Learn more about Ilona Explore Additional Speaker Services
Sponsorship Levels

Choose the level of presence that fits your organization.

Highest Visibility
Presenting Sponsor
Investment: $7,500

The most prominent brand integration across the entire VOICE experience — from promotion to stage to recap.

  • Premier branding
  • "Presented By" recognition
  • Stage recognition
  • Premium seating
  • Activation space
  • Digital recognition
  • Recap content inclusion
  • Customized integration
Request Details
Corporate
Impact Sponsor
Investment: $5,000

Prominent recognition and meaningful brand engagement throughout the event.

  • Prominent branding
  • Social media recognition
  • Stage acknowledgment
  • Reserved seating
  • Event signage
  • Activation space
  • Selected recap content
Request Details
Community
Community Impact Sponsor
Investment: $2,500

Visible recognition paired with a reserved seat in the room VOICE is built to serve.

  • Logo placement
  • Website recognition
  • Social media acknowledgment
  • Event signage
  • Reserved seating
  • Verbal recognition
Request Details
Youth Voice
Youth Voice Sponsor
Investment: $1,500

Directly funds the youth speaker's coaching, preparation, and live-stage experience.

  • Official Youth Voice Sponsor recognition
  • Logo placement
  • Social media recognition
  • Event signage
  • Reserved seating
  • Recognition connected to youth speaker content
Request Details
Development
Speaker Development Sponsor
Investment: $1,000

Supports the coaching, rehearsal, and message development behind every talk.

  • Speaker coaching support
  • Preparation & rehearsal support
  • Message development support
Request Details
Small Business
Small Business & Vendor Sponsor
Investment: $500

Puts your business in front of the room, with partner recognition across VOICE's promotion.

  • Premium vendor placement
  • Logo placement
  • Social media recognition
  • Event signage
  • Two reserved seats
  • Official VOICE partner recognition
Request Details
In-Kind
In-Kind Partner
Investment: Customized Value

Contribute goods or services and receive sponsorship recognition scaled to your contribution.

  • Printing & marketing support
  • Food & beverage
  • Photography & video
  • Technology & equipment
  • Transportation & décor
  • Gifts & professional services
Request Details

Customized and in-kind partnerships are also welcome — let's design one that fits your goals.

Sponsorship benefits may be customized to fit your goals. Sponsorship does not guarantee leads, sales, attendance, impressions, views, or financial return.

At a Glance

Compare What Each Sponsorship Level Includes

Exact fulfillment details for the four primary sponsorship tiers.

BenefitPresenting$7,500Impact$5,000Community Impact$2,500Youth Voice$1,500
Reserved seats included8642
Social media posts4322
Logo placementPremierProminentStandardStandard
Website placementPresenting-levelFeaturedListedListed
Stage acknowledgmentPremier, on-micOn-micVerbalVerbal, tied to youth speaker
Email newsletter inclusionYesYes——
On-site activation spaceYesYes——
Vendor tableIncludedIncluded——
Category exclusivityYesBy category, if available——
Approved event photo accessYesYesYesYes
Recap content inclusionFullSelected—Tied to youth speaker feature

Final fulfillment details are confirmed in the sponsor agreement and may be adjusted by mutual agreement.

Youth Voice

Invest in the Next Generation of Voices.

One of the four featured speakers is a young person — receiving the same professional coaching and a real live-stage opportunity as every other voice on the program.

Youth Voice sponsorship is direct support for a young changemaker's confidence, communication, and leadership exposure. It's a name on the moment a next-generation leader first steps into the light.

Become a Youth Voice Sponsor
Who's in the Room

A diverse, invested Twin Cities audience.

EntrepreneursBusiness & nonprofit leadersYoung professionals Students & familiesCreativesCommunity advocates EducatorsCorporate & civic partnersLeadership-focused residents
250
Venue Capacity
180–225
Attendance Goal
Confirmed combined PUSH, speaker, partner & paid-media audiences
Marketing Reach
Distributed through VOICE, PUSH, speakers & partner channels
Digital Distribution
Beyond the Stage

Reach the Room—and Extend Your Visibility Beyond the Stage

250
Venue
Capacity
180–225Attendance Goal
Marketing ReachBased on confirmed combined PUSH, speaker, partner & paid-media audiences
Digital DistributionEdited presentations shared through VOICE, PUSH, participating speakers & partner channels

Promotion runs across PUSH The Network's platforms, speaker promotion, email outreach, partner networks, social media, paid digital advertising, community calendars, and direct outreach.

Attendance goal reflects a planning target, not a guarantee. Marketing reach and digital distribution reflect confirmed channel partnerships — not guaranteed impressions or views.

Vendor Participation

Put Your Business in the Room

VOICE is seeking a curated group of businesses, nonprofit organizations, authors, financial service providers, real estate professionals, wellness brands, educational resources, food vendors, apparel brands, creatives, and community organizations to join the room.

$50

Community or Nonprofit Vendor

$100

Standard Vendor Table

$150

Premium Vendor Space

$200

Food and Beverage Vendor

$500

Small Business & Vendor Sponsor

Standard vendor participation includes table space, two chairs, two event admissions, and a listing in the vendor directory.

Premium vendor space includes preferred placement and additional promotional recognition.

The $500 Small Business and Vendor Sponsor option includes premium placement, logo recognition, social media promotion, signage, two reserved seats, and official VOICE partner recognition.

Food vendors are responsible for all required licenses, permits, insurance, food-safety requirements, equipment, staffing, payment processing, and venue compliance.

Apply as a Vendor
PUSH The Network 5
The Producer

About PUSH The Network

PUSH The Network develops platforms, partnerships, and experiences that connect people with professional opportunities, resources, relationships, and visibility.

Through events, media, workforce development, youth engagement, and strategic partnerships, PUSH builds the stages where community and opportunity meet — and VOICE is one of them.

Production and media for VOICE are led by Black Gift Media, capturing the night through photography, videography, and live content that carries every voice on stage far beyond the room.

Black Gift Media logo
The Media Team

Captured by Black Gift Media

Black Gift Media handles production and media for VOICE — photography, videography, and live content built to carry every speaker's moment past the room they stood in.

From stage-ready footage to the images that travel across sponsor and speaker channels after the night is over, their team makes sure VOICE is remembered, not just attended.

Visit Black Gift Media
Sponsorship Inquiry

Let's talk about putting your brand on this stage.

Your contact information is used only to respond to this inquiry.

Speaker Application

Tell us your topic, your message, and where you're at.

Speaker slots are limited and subject to approval. Speechwriting from the ground up is available as an additional service.

Performance Proposal

Tell us about your performance.

Submitting a proposal does not guarantee selection. All performances are subject to review, event-theme alignment, venue limitations, and final approval by PUSH The Network.

Vendor Application

Apply to bring your business into the room.

All vendors require approval. Submitting this application does not guarantee acceptance.

2026 Theme: Beyond the Story: Reclaiming the Narrative

Put Your Brand Behind the Inaugural VOICE Experience

Join PUSH The Network, keynote speaker Mauri Friestleben, featured speakers, community leaders, and an engaged Twin Cities audience on Friday, December 5th, 2026, at the Capri Theatre.

Request the Sponsorship Package Schedule a Sponsorship Conversation Apply as a Vendor