Hold a Public Debate/Performance Showcase

Do you have something to say about global issues? Join high school students around the world this fall in the The People Speak. Over each of the past few years, more than 100 NFL chapters and 88 countries participated by holding public debates in their schools.

For fall of 2009, we're adding the concept of holding a performance showcase, so students more oriented toward interpretive or platform speaking events have an outlet for expression in advocacy of issues.

These debates/performance showcases are the cornerstone, but just the appetizer in a full menu of service speaking opportunities that can lead to winning amazing opportunities. Raise your voice, speak up and get involved today: participation is also rewarded through several NFL chapter and individual student merit point incentives as well as scholarship opportunities and monetary rewards to leading schools.

Topic:
October 2009:When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change.

The UN Foundation will keep score to determine which schools earn the opportunity to attend the Youth Leadership Summit.

Schools must submit documentation to the UN Foundation, proving that they actually held a global debate, and what plan they proposed implementing.

It's Easy:

1. Register your school.
2. Organize (or have your students organize) a public performance showcase or debate this month or during November, centering around the topic, "When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combatting climate change."
3. Invite parents, teachers, other students and members of the community to attend.
4. Issue a press release to local media (work with your school's public relations person to get this out)-- here are some sample templates. Optionally, invite local elected officials as guests.
5. Photograph and video record (or audio record) the event as documentation.
6. Have your students put together their own video PSA, climate change service project, research blog.
7. In December, upload documentation of your activities.
8. Conduct one more public event in February or March.

NFL Chapter Incentives 2009-2010

• The top 50 scoring schools will earn a $200 NFL credit voucher to apply toward purchasing merchandise, individual memberships, etc.
• Schools not scoring in the top 50 who hold at least one event (performance showcase or Global Debate, fulfilling obligations of the UN Foundation): $50 NFL online store voucher (requires $100 purchase).
• The top five schools in the US will earn an all-expenses paid trip to The Netherlands for IDEA's Youth Forum, July 22-August 04, 2010.

NFL Point Incentives 2009-2010

Participants can earn National Service merit points as follows:

• Each school can hold up to 10 global debates, with up to 10 participating students per debate.
• A student may earn 10 NFL points for one event per semester (20 pts./year maximum)
• Each student participating in a UN Foundation approved Service Learning Project (UNFSLP) will receive 5 pts. for each, with a limit of two UNFSLPs per student.
• Altogether, a student may earn up to 30 NFL points (per school year), which are above and beyond recording limits for local service speaking.

Coach Incentives 2009-2010

• Coaches receive one-tenth of the National Service merit points their students earn.
• Each NFL coach who organizes an event will receive 5 NFL service citations for the first event, and 2 citations for each additional event.

NFL District Incentives 2009-2010

• The top 10 performing NFL districts in number of participating schools who hold at least one signature event within each semester’s event timeframe (ties broken on number of individual UNFSLPs) would receive a $250 grant for their district, to use as the District Committee sees fit.

Visit The People Speak's Web site today to sign up!