Empowerment Through Debate: A Journey from Incarceration to Resilience

This chapter recounts a transformative debate event between former Rikers Island inmates and Columbia University students, centered on the contentious topic of cash bail. It highlights personal journeys of overcoming addiction and imprisonment, illustrating how debate fosters essential skills like critical thinking and self-confidence, particularly for those with incarceration histories. The narrative emphasizes the impact of supportive programs like the Rikers Debate Project in aiding reintegration into society and reducing recidivism.