The exciting finish to one of ICNY’s extraordinary programs took place Saturday, May 4, in Manhattan, when the final tournament of “Debate in the Neighborhood” saw two teams of talented high school debaters argue the topic of “Stop and Frisk.”
For those who don’t know, Debate in the Neighborhood is a free program bringing together high school-aged students from diverse New York City faith communities to learn the art of debate while examining mutual concerns of social justice and civil liberty. The program, a collaboration of ICNY and the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), and funded by Open Society Foundations, began in 2012 in Queens, and expanded to the Bronx this year.
After months of debate training, students from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities in Queens and the Bronx teamed with each other to debate the controversial issue of Stop and Frisk in New York City. The final, prize-winning debate can be viewed in its entirety here.
Pictured above (l. to r.): ICNY executive director the Rev. Chloe Breyer, David Rohde, Fatima Shama, and The Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt
Judging this final debate were (Fatima Shama, NYC Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs; David Rohde, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at Reuters; and Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, former Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York. Their thoughtful and inspiring remarks not only gave the event a genuine sense of import, but served to recognize and celebrate the impressive accomplishments of the students in this program.
ICNY and IDEA are extremely grateful to the judges, mentors, youth trainers and others who have helped make this program so successful – but mostly we are proud of the students for their abilities to critically and objectively analyze an issue, and then stand up before an audience and let their voices be heard. Knowing that these are the future leaders of our communities, boroughs, city and country, fill us with pride and optimism!
Take a look at the entire Debate in the Neighborhood program on its Facebook page and YouTube channel!
