Over the next couple of weeks, The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) resumes the “Debate in the Neighborhood” 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 is being conducted in collaboration with the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) and is funded by Open Society Youth Initiative. We started the program last year in Queens, and it has been tremendously successful. Now we are expanding into the Bronx.
This year, we continue working in Queens with The Hindu Temple Society of North America in Flushing, the Jamaica Muslim Center, and the Sikh Cultural Society and Gurdwara in Richmond Hill. Additionally, we launch the program in the Bronx with the partnership of the Islamic Leadership School, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, and Bronx Christian Fellowship Church.
The focus of last year’s “Debate in the Neighborhood” was the use of racial profiling as a justifiable means of preventing terrorism. This year the topic is going to be on “Privacy and Surveillance with New Technologies.” As is always the case in this program, our students must be prepared to argue either side of the issue, and they are spending the entire Spring 2013 semester learning about the topic and preparing their arguments. During the course of the trainings, the students will visit each other’s houses of worship, and hear from knowledgeable civic leaders on both sides of the debate topic. All of this experience helps students develop analytical & objectivity skills, as well as multicultural awareness and sensitivity – all qualities we need and expect from the future leaders of this great city!
So it promises to be a great “Debate in the Neighborhood” this Spring. Please follow our developments on Facebook and watch for the invitation to the final tournament in May!
For more information contact kevin@interfaithcenter.org or (212) 870-3510.
A flyer for this program is available here.
