Patriot Act Garden Debates

YOURS Celebrates National Youth Sevice Day with Kick Off of First\ Garden

BALTIMORE --On Sunday, April 17th from 3 to 6 p.m., YOURS (Youth\ Organizing Urban Revitalization Systems) will celebrate National Youth Service\ Day 2005 by opening its first urban garden at Frederick Douglass High School\ (2301 Gwynns Falls Pkwy, Baltimore City). This free public event will feature\ student-led information sessions on nutrition, public debates, spoken word performances\ and free food.

The urban garden being launched, will allow students to\ grow, harvest, and eventually sell produce from the garden to the Sandtown/Mondawmin\ communities at affordable prices. This will empower both the students and the\ community. Eventually, YOURS will offer students web design and computer use\ and repair classes.
YOURS is developing a network of programs that will empower\ students to take leadership roles in their communities. Through fundraising\ efforts, the organization will pay for materials and facilities for the urban\ gardens program, pay four part-time student employees to design and build a\ mobile market vehicle, develop information technology training courses and design\ curriculum for students and other community members in technology, nutrition\ and cooperative business management. Through these programs YOURS will build\ a core group of student leaders who will take on increasing responsibility and\ ownership of YOURS' programs.

All profits will be recycled back into\ the community through the cooperative business model in the form of a cooperative\ grocery store, a community center with technology access and public education\ programs. This plan lays the foundation for moving towards the organization's\ goal of transforming Baltimore into a thriving center of community economic\ empowerment.
For additional information on YOURS please visit the Web site\ at www.bmoreisyours.org or call (410) 366-7139.

Debate Schedule:

Themes of the Debates and Spoken Word will be:

Community Empowerment/Solutions,\ Education, YOURS as a solution, Debate across the curriculum, Community Centers\ and Extra Curricular Activities, Nutrition and Public Health

10 Spoken\ Word spots are open and 7 plans in the form of 1AC\u2019s are open to debaters\ from any school

The event will feature 4 Public Debates by Middle School,\ High School and College Debaters.

Debate #1 \u2013 (4:10 \u2013 4:25)\ Increasing Academic Achievement

Featuring middle school debaters\ from George Kelson elementary

Debate #2 \u2013 (4:45 \u2013 5:00) Big\ Schools vs. Small Schools

Douglass and Freedom Academy with no rebuttal\ speeches and audience closing thoughts

Debate #3 \u2013 (5:05 \u2013\ 5:20) Public Health \u2013 Vegetarianism

Featuring a 1 on 1 15 minute\ debate by Towson debaters

Debate #4 \u2013 (5:25 \u2013 5:35) Next\ Years Topic

Featuring students from Forest Park and Carver High School