The Malcolm X Debate Program at Rikers Island

For Immediate Release:

The Malcolm X Debate Program can only provide debate education for 50 high school students incarcerated and educated at Rikers this Spring if we have the support of fifteen volunteers just like you. If you want to be a part of our program this semester – now is the time to get involved!

We need volunteer coaches for our Spring program, beginning on Tuesday, January 26th. Our program runs every Tuesday evening from 6:00-9pm. Course credit can be arranged.

The first info session is today (1/19) at 6:30 in Bobst in LL2-07, followed by a Thursday (1/21) session at 5:30 in the same location.

Please email Caroline at info@malcolmxdebates.org if you plan on attending an info session.
Our Spring session dates are:
Jan 19 and 21st (info sessions)
Jan 26 (volunteer training 1)
Feb 2 (volunteer training 2)
Feb 9 (orientation at Rikers)
Feb 16 (session 1)
Feb 23 (session 2)
March 2 (session 3)
March 9 (session 4)
March 23 (session 5)
March 30 (session 6)
April 6 (session 7)
April 13 (awards presentation)

The most important things that we are looking for in the people who will volunteer with us at Rikers is commitment and a willingness to make human connections- not necessarily debate or teaching experience — we will help you with that!  The students who we work with at Rikers are genuine, smart, and motivated high schoolers, many of  whom have been let down too many times, and we build trust with our youth based on the extended commitment of our volunteers. Go ahead, read the post below to find out what our students say about the debate program!

Hope you’ll join us!

If you’re interested in becoming involved with the Malcolm X Debate Program at Rikers Island please join us for our Fall 2009 info session on

Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm at 715 Broadway (on the corner of Broadway & Washington Pl.)

Please bring your NYU/government ID to access the building.

… from less academic sources. A few different perspectives here, with perhaps too much focus on debate as a route to power.

No Argument: High School Debate is Popular Once Again

Revenge of the Nerds

Ministers of Debate

Were you a high school debater too?

Here are a few reading resources about debate theory for folks who will be volunteering with the program this spring (or anyone interested in exploring debate theory more in depth).

(right click to ’save as’)

Gordon Mitchell – Argumentative Agency in Debate

Gordon Mitchell – Simulated Public Argument as Pedagogy

Jessica Kulynych – Performing politics: Foucault, Habermas, and postmodern participation.

Allen, Berkowitz, Hunt and Louden – A Meta-Analysis of Forensics and Communication Education on Critical Thinking

Littlefield – High School Students Perception of the Efficacy of Debate Education

Bellon – A Research Based Justification for Debate Across the Curriculum

We are currently seeking volunteer teachers!

EMAIL: info@malcolmxdebates.org

Beginning in February and running until May (a college semester) volunteers will facilitate our first debate program at Rikers Island Academy. Volunteers will have a teaching partner.

*We will train volunteers at the end of January
*If you are a student, we will offer you course/internship credit
*You will be part of an exciting start-up project
*You will have a unique opportunity to work with incarcerated students
*You will learn more about yourself as a leader, a teacher, a thinker, an organizer, an activist, and a person! You will not walk away unchanged.

Can’t commit to volunteer right now?
No problem! Show your support for MXPD by joining our steering committee. We need help with curriculum, fundraising, and innovating. Come once or come every week…we’d love to have you.