![New Directions Speakers School Graduates at City Hall in Thunder Bay](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Speakers-School-Graduation-2014.jpg)
THUNDER BAY – LIVING – The New Directions Speaker’s School are hosting a Graduation Ceremony to celebrate the success of the Spring 2015 class.
This free 14 week course runs twice a year teaching public speaking and leadership skills in an environment of peer support and within the context of education in social justice issues. The school is open to anyone who is an injured worker, living in poverty or facing other economic challenges and attempts to address and overcome barriers to participation by providing a meal and travel and child care stipends for those who require them.
“The training consists of exercises focusing on effective communication, public speaking and group facilitation combined with substantive lectures on social justice issues and other related topics presented by community trainers”, said Speaker’s School Chair, Steve Mantis.
The graduation event is being held on Tuesday May 19th in Council Chambers at the City of Thunder Bay City Hall, beginning with a light meal served between 5:30 to 6:30. This will be followed by speeches from the graduates and the graduation ceremony beginning at 6:30.
“I am very proud of each of the students graduating this evening”, said Speaker’s School Coordinator Deanna Ford. “The students have worked very hard over the past 14 weeks absorbing the course content, researching and fine tuning their speech.”