Brooklyn students debate to sharpen their public speaking skills
A non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged young people who have fallen through the cracks earn high school diplomas is also helping them improve their public speaking skills to give them more self-confidence.
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) sponsored a Debate Day at Brooklyn College on Jan. 15. Trainees from all four of OBT’s program sites across the city, including Sunset Park and Bushwick in Brooklyn, Jamaica, Queens, and Mott Haven in the Bronx, participated in the debates.
Debate Day served as the culmination of 16 weeks of intense preparation by the trainees in their public speaking and communications classes, according to OBT officials.
“Debate Day is a signature event of OBT and part of what sets us apart from other youth workforce development agencies. It goes miles towards building their self confidence and unlocks potential they never knew they had,” said Randy Peers, CEO of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow.