photo courtesy of CAS

Kevin attended high school in Harlem.  "I came from a background where there wasn't really much for me to do," he recalls.  Kevin became active in the IMPACT Coalition’s NY Urban Debate League and travelled the country as a member of the program. Through debate, he learned how to think critically, hone ideas and push himself harder than ever before.   His experiences gave him the confidence to secure an internship at HBO.  The skills he gained, he applies daily.  His friends from debate are still his closest.  Now he’s attending Baruch College, majoring in Public Affairs with a minor in Theater, Communication, and Law. In his free time, he works as a wardrobe supervisor on Off-Broadway shows. 

Debate Delivers Dreams.

Mobile Satellite Support Centers

IMPACT assisted in the development of debate support centers in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Support Centers enlist local community-based organizations that would benefit from the seeding a debate center in their youth development operations and make additional services available to the debaters. OSI’s model sought to enlist local community-based organizations who would benefit from the seeding a debate center in their youth development operations and make additional services available to the debaters. The first resource center was established in the Bronx at the headquarters of the Bronx Defenders. The second in Brooklyn at the Winthrop Beacon School run in partnership with Sesame Flyers International.

While IMPACT was not directly responsible for the resource centers originally, it assisted in placement of staff, identification of resources and share information related to schools in that borough from its data management system. Each of the four individuals hired to run the resource centers has been located through the IMPACT Coalition’s job announcements.

In 2004, IMPACT began to run the Centers directly as satellites of its programs. IMPACT’s goal will be to position the Debate Resource Center as a critical services provider for an underserved community and promote confidence, self-awareness, and motivation in some of the most at-risk youth in New York City. The long-term approach includes business sponsorships and donations, government contracts, individual gifts and foundation grants.

Beyond debate preparation, IMPACT’s involvement in this space provides a forum for parent workshops, meetings of Alumni Associations, coaches’ training and other event. Community associations may be interested in using the space for education focus groups or other activities that IMPACT could facilitate or provide on a fee-for-service basis.

IMPACT college debaters and coaches volunteer as coaching assistants at the Support Centers and directly at NYUDL schools, judge at NYUDL tournaments, and are employed as staff at our training and professional development events.