The Newark Debate Academy also offers opportunities for students to participate in public debates utilizing formats that emphasize oration, argumentation, and refutation with evidence. The NDA has established local and International partnerships for these public debates giving priority to an ethic of global community engagement. The curriculum team at the Newark Debate Academy develop topics for the public debates that are pertinent community issues, both on a local and international scale.  Recent subject matters include comparison between state policies for funding education in New Jersey, the positive effects of globalization and the internet, and felon voting rights. In June, we run a week-long public debate tour on political issues unique to New Jersey at different high schools and middle schools in the Greater Newark area with teams comprised of the top high school debaters in the city and members of the Rutgers University-Newark Debate team. We are excited about creating public spaces for our students to speak to the public and for the community to hear their voices.