On May 15th, The Richmond Forum officially launched the Richmond Region Speech & Debate Initiative with an event for educators hosted at WestRock Company. Speech and debate coaches, students, school administrators, and representatives of local and national speech and debate organizations gathered to discuss the impact of our new Initiative on the region and its students.
David Hogg, a former speech and debate student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, joins in via Skype
Among those sharing their testimonials were Jaclyn Clark, the Cosby High School coach who was able to lower the cost for her students of participating in tournaments this year because of the grant her team received from the Initiative. Aaron Payne, the senior class president at James River High School, spoke to the effect that participating in speech and debate has had on his skills in collaboration and critical thinking.
Participants also heard from David Hogg, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who joined in via Skype to share his experiences in speech and debate, and how the activity enabled him to speak about gun control in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting.
Representatives from the Virginia High School League and the Virginia Debate Academy talked about the value of expanding speech and debate programs in the region to establish Richmond as a focal point for the activity in Virginia and the source of the state’s top students, debaters, and citizens.
Sandra Wheeler, who spearheads the RRSDI, explains the resources available through the Initiative.
Executive Director of the National Speech & Debate Association Scott Wunn shared his excitement about what he’s seen from the Initiative and his tour of Richmond yesterday, and how he can foresee Richmond becoming a model for other cities who want to create similar initiatives around the country. Wunn traveled from NSDA headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, for the event, and enjoyed his first visit to Richmond—especially touring St. John’s Church Foundation and hearing a reenactment of Patrick Henry’s historic “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!” speech.
The Richmond Forum’s new Director of Student Programs Sandra Wheeler, who spearheads the RRSDI, had this to say: “We are thrilled to be launching the Richmond Region Speech and Debate Initiative with our four surrounding schools districts (Chesterfield County Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools and Richmond Public Schools). I can’t imagine a better way to prepare our students for college, work and life!”