Umoja Debate coach Jaiylen Flynn works with students Jermya Fortson, Alana Murrie, Sydney Bradley, Aaron Samuel, and Rheagan Walker.
The Grand Prix was not the only exciting event in Detroit last weekend. Detroit high schoolers and middle schoolers gathered at the University of Detroit’s McNichols campus to participate in the Umoja Debate League Competition. The Umoja Debate League is a nonprofit organization that utilizes debate as a platform to teach transferable life skills, such as critical thinking, confidence, conflict resolution, increased literacy, and self-expression, to Detroit youth between the ages of 11 and 18.
The students engaged in timed debates on various topics, including mandating police residency, lowering the voting age, and taxing corporations based on their carbon output. They were coached by school staff members and representatives from Umoja throughout the academic year to prepare for competition. The grand prize for the competition was a trip to Ghana for the winning teams and outstanding individual debaters.
Detroit Bar Association (DBA) President Zenell Brown, Wolverine Bar President Diane Hutcherson, along with attorneys from solo practices, law firms, the City of Detroit, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, and other organizations volunteered as judges.
DBA President Zenell Brown proudly shared a photo of her volunteer badge and her “Detroit Lawyer” t-shirt on LinkedIn, demonstrating her pride in being a lawyer and her encouragement for the aspiring lawyers on the debate teams.
Behind the scenes was Jerjuan Howard, the executive director. A graduate of Renaissance High School and with a major in criminal justice from Western University, Howard founded the Umoja Debate Team in his hometown of Detroit and successfully recruited 12 schools to participate in the competition.
Students from Henry Ford High School and Bates Academy took home the titles, trophies, and grand prize.
Howard hopes that he has revved up the excitement and that judges, lawyers, bar associations and the legal community will ramp up support and continue making the Umoja Debate League a strong and viable pipeline to the law and judiciary.
For those who wish to raise awareness, volunteer, or support the Umoja Debate League in other ways, Jerjuan Howard may be reached Info@umojadebateteam.org.
The students engaged in timed debates on various topics, including mandating police residency, lowering the voting age, and taxing corporations based on their carbon output. They were coached by school staff members and representatives from Umoja throughout the academic year to prepare for competition. The grand prize for the competition was a trip to Ghana for the winning teams and outstanding individual debaters.
Detroit Bar Association (DBA) President Zenell Brown, Wolverine Bar President Diane Hutcherson, along with attorneys from solo practices, law firms, the City of Detroit, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, and other organizations volunteered as judges.
DBA President Zenell Brown proudly shared a photo of her volunteer badge and her “Detroit Lawyer” t-shirt on LinkedIn, demonstrating her pride in being a lawyer and her encouragement for the aspiring lawyers on the debate teams.
Behind the scenes was Jerjuan Howard, the executive director. A graduate of Renaissance High School and with a major in criminal justice from Western University, Howard founded the Umoja Debate Team in his hometown of Detroit and successfully recruited 12 schools to participate in the competition.
Students from Henry Ford High School and Bates Academy took home the titles, trophies, and grand prize.
Howard hopes that he has revved up the excitement and that judges, lawyers, bar associations and the legal community will ramp up support and continue making the Umoja Debate League a strong and viable pipeline to the law and judiciary.
For those who wish to raise awareness, volunteer, or support the Umoja Debate League in other ways, Jerjuan Howard may be reached Info@umojadebateteam.org.
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