"Debate is like a link to different places. Half my family didn’t graduate high school. I don’t want to take the easy way. I wanted to take the hard way.”
Rafael Bruno, NYUDL debater at Franklin K. Lane High School
Our Challenge
Education is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty. Millions of urban kids cannot read or articulate ideas. Half won't graduate from high school. They have lost hope before their time and will not be able to participate as informed citizens in our democracy.
Our Big Idea
Solutions to the challenge of education most often promote a change in the learning environment-- smaller class size, better teachers, higher standards. What we’ve found is that an effective change is one that focuses on the child. If you motivate a child to develop an interest in reading and learning, she will move mountains to overcome educational obstacles regardless of socio-economic circumstance. This simple but compelling idea is achievable for millions of young people by investing in ALOUD. When kids discover their voice, you can address chronic issues at a fraction of the costs of similar initiatives.
History
By the 1970s, budget deficits led 80% of urban schools to eliminate their debate programs and abandon civics education. For almost twenty years, Will Baker has worked to reverse this trend. Baker founded the IMPACT Coalition and partnered with the Open Society Institute and Emory University to bring debate to the neediest students in the neediest schools.
IMPACT ran the NY Urban Debate League doubling its participants in its first year and reaching ten times that number over the following three years. These successes set the stage for Baker to push for national replication by leading the Associated Leaders of Urban Debate.
The Need
Local partners reaching out to students often face entrenched bureaucracies, inadequate funding, changing political winds and chronic understaffing. Additionally, many people have preconceived notions about debate. Partners encounter misconceptions ranging from the availability of debate programming (“ every school has a debate club”) to what urban debate is (“ I’ve seen the presidential debates, that activity can’t produce real change for kids”). Debaters understand and recognize the power of this activity. Others do not.
Powerful solutions require dedicated oversight and a visionary narrative. ALOUD’s national network builds local capacity and educates stakeholders about the potential of debate. Through our experiences from other cities, ALOUD presents empirical data and sensible options that overcome these misconceptions and obstacles.
The Results
In 2005, ALOUD began to invite youth expression programs (debate, civic engagement, reasoned discourse, hip-hop, and public speaking) to join as partners in a movement to bring debate to the attention of the American public. The response was overwhelming with new endorsements and supporters presenting themselves almost daily. Now with over 20 partners in cities from Seattle to Miami, ALOUD shares the power of debate.________________________________
M otivate a child to develop an interest in reading and learning, she will move mountains to overcome educational obstacles.
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This is our message to urban students:
Your Voice Your Future. Debate.