Attendees: Tom DuVal, MuAwia Da’mes, Bruce Lundeen, Aaron Hagmeier, Diana Woodall, Kai Degner, Tom Domonske
Kai Degner convened a session at the second Sustainability Summit about starting a Harrisonburg debate league or series, as previsouly discussed on HburgNews.com and in numerous late night conversations with local debate experts, particularly current and past coaches at JMU and HHS.
This program envisioned would have dual objectives of educating the audience on the issue(s) being debated, and also educating the audience on the positive role honest and vigorous debate can play in society. If a debate program included trained debaters committed to educating the audience and using honest arguments, the program could provide an example of the best of waht debate can be.
The program would be aimed at providing a solution to program that “debate” has been co-opted in the main stream media by what Kai calls “crossfire”. This is explained in the YouTuve video below.
The Community Mediation Center will explore the feasibility of supporting this program. There is some possibility it could be broadcast be local public media outlets. The Mediation Center would need contributions, grants, and/or sponsorships to cover the costs of offering the program, and partnerships would be sought with local debate teams (JMU and HHS first) and with JMU’s Center for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue.
Contact Kai [at] WeWorkItOut.org
