THUNDER BAY – The New Directions Speakers School has been enabling and helping people find their voice for years in Thunder Bay. Tonight, graduates of the school gave their speeches at the graduation celebration at City Hall.
The speakers offered strong speeches on issues that mattered deeply to them. It was a night of inspiring words from an impressive group.
Diane Armstrong, Emily Moore, Kenevieve Buchan, and Yvette Ellerton graduated from the school this year.
Diane Armstrong
Diane spoke on bullying and its impact on people.
Yvette Ellerton
Yvette spoke on the importance of food banks.
Kenevieve Buchan
Kenevieve spoke on the impact of Child Services on families.
Emily Moore
Emily spoke on the need for more domestic abuse shelters.
New Directions Speakers School offers a free 14 week course which runs twice a year teaching public speaking and leadership skills in an environment of peer support and within the context of education in social justice issues. The school is open to anyone who is an injured worker, living in poverty or facing other economic challenges and attempts to address and overcome barriers to participation by providing a meal and travel and child care stipends for those who require them.
“The training consists of exercises focusing on effective communication, public speaking and group facilitation combined with substantive lectures on social justice issues and other related topics presented by community trainers”, said Speaker’s School Chair, Steve Mantis.
The graduation event was held on Tuesday May 19th in Council Chambers at the City of Thunder Bay City Hall.
“I am very proud of each of the students graduating this evening”, said Speaker’s School Coordinator Deanna Ford. “The students have worked very hard over the past 14 weeks absorbing the course content, researching and fine tuning their speech.”
Find out more at www.speakersschool.ca
