JOSEPH P. MOAKLEY PUBLIC SPEAKING INSTITUTE
The Moakley Public Speaking Institute, a nine day summer program for high school students, was held from August 13-23, 2007. The Institute is designed to help teens master the art of public speaking. Sixteen high school students (grades 9-12) participated in this year’s program. The students were recruited from Upward Bound Programs at Boston University, Roxbury Community College, Simmons College, and Chelsea High School, as well as Boston College’s College Bound program, TeachBoston, Urban Scholars, Health Careers Opportunity Program, WriteBoston, and the Boston Student Advisory Council. During the final banquet, students delivered speeches to approximately 75 guests on topics of their choice including images of beauty, the prevention of AIDS, the war in Iraq, world poverty, pollution, funding for Boston Public Schools, teen fathers, and domestic violence.