EDTalks: How Debaters Will Save Democracy and Change the World

This EDTalk is titled “How Debaters Will Save Democracy and Change the World.” Participation in academic debate improves student test scores, grades and graduation rates – and also fosters critical skills that strengthen civic action and agency. In this EDTalk, Amy Cram Helwich explores how academic debate - historically dominated by white, male and wealthy individuals - has now expanded to a much wider range of participants and can help strengthen critical thinking, listening, empathy, problem-solving and advocacy skills. Amy also describes how students from the Minnesota Urban Debate League's Spanish, East African and Financial Literacy debate teams utilize debate skills to create change in their communities. EDTalks is co-sponsored by AchieveMpls and The Citizens League, with generous support from the Bush Foundation and Comcast. Videography by Jeff Achen. Learn more at www.achievempls.org/edtalks or follow us on Twitter at #EDTalksMN.