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Jerrell Baker - Top Debate Coach
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Natasha Baker
Blacksonville Media Department
800.863.9130, 7801
editorials@blacksonville.com
National Urban Debate Leaders to visit Jacksonville to Expand Urban Debate Leagues
Jacksonville, Florida -- On Friday June 27th from 2:00pm – 6:00pm Blacksonville.com in collaboration with New York-based Association of Urban Debate Leagues (ALOUD) will host an Urban Debate Forum at the main Jacksonville Downtown Public Library, located at 303 N Laura Street. The two day session which continues on Saturday at the Beaver Street Enterprise from 10:00am to 3:00pm, will consist of workshops and interactive training for local educators and school board members, as well as mock debate demonstrations from Baltimore’s top debaters and coaches.
Anyone familiar with the movie the Great Debaters starring Denzel Washington cannot deny its steadfast humanity, its diversity, its passion for literacy and education, and its faith that history teaches invaluable lessons. But, for thousands of students in urban and suburban schools across America, debate is more than just a movie; it’s a way of life. Local community leaders in the education and non-profit sector invite the forum wholeheartedly having identified the lack of effective programming in southern public schools.
“Jacksonville is an untapped market that will thrive from the depth of what debate has to offer our youth”, says Jermyn Shannon-El, co-founder of the Blacksonville Community Network (BCN). “We are really enthused that ALOUD and partners have answered the call to convene this summer in Jacksonville. Our national team has worked diligently at developing an aggressive marketing plan to lobby community-wide support. Local funding is critical considering the tremendous budget cuts in education statewide. We have faith the Jacksonville community will step-up for the future well-being of our young people.”
While schools in the south suffer major fund reduction, nationwide, incorporating debate into public school curriculum, communities and programs is changing the landscape of education.
“We feel strongly participants in the area will discover debate's allure for young people and how debate creates exciting, highly economical opportunities for self-directed learning and friendly competition” says Jerrell Baker, Florida A&M and Raines High School alumni who as a successful debate coach recently took his Baltimore team to compete at Harvard. “Our unique approach and methodology to educating urban youth is breaking walls within the national debate arena. Furthermore, we leverage debates power to offer an intriguing approach at fostering communication across race and gender lines where effective communication fails to build healthy relationships.”
The Associated Leaders of Urban Debate serves public school systems within the United States by facilitating participation in organized debate activities for all students. Urban school districts that have implemented debate leagues have found that literacy scores of participating student’s improve by 25%, grade-point averages by 8 to 10%, and high school graduation rates of nearly 100%. Poor readers and “trouble makers” become some of the best debaters, driven by the thrill of competition to acquire the skills they need to do the research and compose their arguments. Coaches find that students take their debate skills outside the tournaments, cross-examining those who hassle them or using their “debate voice” to command cooperation.
The event is open to the general public from 4pm - 6pm on Friday and 10am-12pm on Saturday. Educators, business professionals, and concerned citizens are welcome to attend the complete forum by invite or RSVP only. To RSVP, or for more information on the Urban Debate Forum, please call (904) 962.7284 or email info@dudl.org.
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The Associated Leaders of Urban Debate (ALOUD) represents a national network of partner programs dedicated to promoting debate as a vehicle for urban education reform and civic participation. ALOUD helps young people make healthier choices and transform their lives, transform their work, and build capacity. In less than three years, ALOUD partners produced staggering measurable results in the nation's most challenged school districts; 61% increases in critical thinking skills. www.debateleaders.org
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Blacksonville Community Network (BCN) is a social marketing firm that advocates the use of technology to promote positive change and social responsibility in business and the non-profit sector. The firm provides digital media, consulting, and interactive strategies to brand non-traditional programs and campaigns to a host of Fortune 500 companies and local agencies. www.blacksonville.com / www.blacksonville.net
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