Written by Gabriella Bonamici
Chicago Debates is the afterschool program that’s preparing the next generation of lawyers, policy makers, and innovators of all fields! By providing mentorship, resources, and opportunities to engage in civil discourse, Chicago Debates is bridging the educational gap across communities throughout the city.
The Goodman strongly believes in this mission, so we’re partnering with Chicago Debates throughout the run of Inherit the Wind. Be sure to grab one of our specialty cocktails — the Ol’ Fashioned Southern Heart and the One A Day — at the bar, where 20% of your proceeds will go toward this important school program—talk about a win-win!
Debate teaches students a well-rounded skillset that highlights “The Four Cs”:
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Creativity
Chicago Debates was formed by local civic and business leaders. They partnered with CPS in 1997, and what started out as just five southside schools has since bloomed citywide into the largest and most competitive urban debate league in the United States.
Just during this past academic year, Chicago Debates has:
- Served 1,465 Chicago Public School students across 104 CPS schools (76 of which were Title I schools )
- Hosted 46 debate tournaments
- Engaged 438 volunteers
“At Chicago Debates, our mission revolves around the transformative power of speech and debate as educational tools. By providing resources, mentorship, and a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas, we seek to bridge educational gaps, cultivate leadership, and instill a sense of civic responsibility in the next generation. Our organization focuses on creating debate teams at schools in the city’s most under-resourced and underserved neighborhoods, where a larger percentage of students struggle academically in schools with limited resources. Debate combats these inequities by preparing students with the skills that will help them to be successful in high school and beyond.”
Last season, we raised nearly $15,000 in bar proceeds for organizations including Defloured, Gender Fucked, and the Chicago Persian School. This season, we look forward to contributing toward another round of worthy causes.
Special thanks to our fabulous Bar Manager, Oonagh Kelly, for leading this community initiative to pay it forward.
Gabriella Bonamici is the Marketing Assistant at Goodman Theatre.
