Unlocking Voices of Emotion and Empowering At-Risk Youth
Spych (speech & psych) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising emotional awareness and communication in underprivileged children through verbal literacy.
Classroom Activity: Picture Storytelling
Building emotional granularity, recognition, and communication.
Choose an emotion to get started!
Happiness
Bright smiles, joyful moments, and memories that warm the heart. Tell a story where happiness takes center stage — big or small, it matters.
Sadness
Sometimes stories carry clouds. Explore the quiet moments of sadness and what they reveal about people, places, and growth.
Disgust
Yuck! From gross-out messes to awkward encounters, discover the stories behind the things that make us wrinkle our noses.
Anger
When feelings boil over, what happens next? Tell a story about frustration, injustice, or standing up for what’s right.
Fear
Shadows, worries, or brave moments in the face of fear — your story can show what it’s like to be scared, and what comes after.
Surprise
From unexpected twists to wild reactions, surprise brings energy and wonder. What caught your character off guard?
About Us
Athena Cho
Founder, Co-President
Athena is 17 years old and a junior in high school with a deep understanding of empathy and emotional intelligence. Growing up, she often volunteered alongside her mom, working with marginalized communities where she witnessed firsthand how emotional expression was often overlooked, especially in younger children. Over time, she learned how deeply emotional communication shapes a child’s ability to understand themselves and connect with others. However, there were no concrete tools or guidelines to build these skills in children; that’s what inspired her to create Spych, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing emotional awareness and verbal literacy in underprivileged youth.
Elise Longinetti-Geddie
Co-President
Elise is a 17-year-old high school junior who has often been praised for her strong sense of emotional awareness and intelligence. She credits her mother, an educator, for teaching her valuable strategies to manage and understand emotions — lessons that have helped her stay calm and face challenges with thoughtfulness. Elise knows that not all children have access to the same support. She’s passionate about Spych because its mission, helping kids build emotional “toolboxes,” ensures that every child has the chance to grow into the best version of themselves.
Be an Advocate
Inspired to support kids in developing emotional awareness? Get in touch to explore how this powerful tool can help—and how you can be part of the change.
Spych 