THUNDER BAY – Tonight at City Hall the Council Chambers will hear the voices of graduates of The New Directions Speaker’s School. The Graduation Ceremony will celebrate the success of the Fall 2015 class.
This free 14-week course 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 facing social or economic challenges such as being an injured worker, living in poverty or facing racial or other challenges. It attempts to address and overcome barriers to participation by providing a meal and travel and child care stipends for those who require them.
“The participants focus on developing effective communication, public speaking and group facilitation skills. Presentations by community trainers on social justice issues and other related topics round out the experience”, said Speakers’ School Chair, Steve Mantis.
The graduation event is being held in the Council Chambers at the City of Thunder Bay City Hall, beginning with a light meal served between 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. This will be followed by speeches from the graduates and the graduation ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm.
“The class participants have been very motivated to learn the skills for writing and presenting on topics that are important to them”, said Speakers’ School Class Facilitator Deanna Ford. “I am proud of each of the participants graduating this evening and all their work over the 14 weeks of the course researching and fine tuning their speech.”
