The Voice They Never Expected
Unmuted. Undiagnosed. Unstoppable
The Voice They Never Expected is a memoir about what happens when someone long underestimated finally claims her voice.
Jenny Allen-Price traces a journey from growing up unheard and misunderstood to becoming an educator, advocate, and systems-builder committed to empowering young people through meaningful work and real-world opportunity. Blending reflection, resilience, and purpose, the memoir explores identity, leadership, late discovery, and the quiet power of persistence.
From navigating early silence and self-doubt to founding youth-centered initiatives like Dragon Brew and Next Step Coffee, Jenny's story reveals how lived experience can become a catalyst for change—not only for oneself, but for entire communities.
This book is for readers who have ever felt underestimated, who found their voice later than expected, or who are learning to rewrite their story on their terms. It is a reminder that growth is not linear, leadership doesn't always look loud, and it is never too late to become who you were meant to be.
About the Book
Jenny Allen-Price's memoir blends lived neurodivergent experience with the perspective of a late-diagnosed Black woman thriving with schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism. It is a story of survival, self-discovery, humor, resilience, and the power of finding a voice after years of silence. This book is for anyone seeking hope, belonging, and the courage to reclaim their story.
Writing in progress—early readers welcome.
Your voice matters
This memoir invites readers to reconsider the stories they've been told about who they are and who they can become. Whether you grew up unheard, misunderstood, or quietly navigating systems not built for you, The Voice They Never Expected affirms that your voice still counts—no matter when you find it.
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