A speakout is an event where a group of people give testimony about a particular issue. The people speaking can be 'experts' giving factual information to educate the audience and media, or they can be lay people who are personally affected by the issue talking about their lives, or a combination of both. (Source: http://www.actupny.org/YELL/zine/speakout.html)
Speakouts/Soapboxes can be organized events or events that are arranged by participants. They are a venue for public comment and debate and are usually informal with a limited agenda. Formally organized Speakouts/Soapboxes should be relaxed and should not attempt to steer a discussion and hence set an agenda.
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This page originally copied with permission from the Citizens Science Toolbox