Workshops & Reflections About September 11, 2001

c/o Eloquence Academy

This week, Eloquence Academy worked with students to reflect on and remember September 11, 2001. The series of programs was made possible by generous grant support from the Corporation for National & Community Service (“AmeriCorps”) and the United States federal government.

24 years ago, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks unfolded across New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, claiming 3,000 lives. We remain committed to mourning those that lost their lives, memorializing the heroism demonstrated by first responders and military veterans, and celebrating the resilient American spirit of 2001 and years following.

Students worked with our team members Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Erika Chiu, Sowmiya Deventhira-Raja, Daniel Gibson, Ellie Kim, Arnav Maheshwari, and Kira Waldhalm, who developed reflection assignments that highlighted the intersection of historical memory, public art, and public speaking. Integrated during classes and in-school programs, it was an opportunity to connect over 300 younger students with an important part of national history. 

The project was run under the auspices of the Eloquence Charitable Fund, a philanthropic initiative connecting academic debate to community service. Kira Waldhalm, Director of the Charitable Fund, said: “We were honored to receive AmeriCorps’ support. This grant furthered our mission of empowering youth through civic engagement and purposeful communication. We are eager to extend our partnership in future years.”

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,500+ students across 35 states and 17 countries. Ultimately, Eloquence Academy aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow Eloquence Academy on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The Eloquence Charitable Fund is a philanthropic initiative connecting academic debate to community service while addressing the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund has removed 500 pounds of trash from the ocean and delivered 30,000 goods to 15,000 individuals in need across all 6 inhabitable continents.