Debate in Your Area - Associated Leaders of Urban Debate

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From Seattle to Miami, debate communities emerged with over 25,000 children benefiting from ALOUD partner programs. ALOUD works with partner programs in over 500 schools, community-based organizations and prisons. The number of children served has doubled over the past five years, while reducing the cost to serve each child. When ALOUD's network of partners expanded to youth expression programs, those number grew to a quarter of a million young people.

With your help, half a million students from the country's most challenged neighborhoods will articulate ideas, push their intellectual limits through competition, become more engaged in the everyday joy of learning, transform the quality of their schools and discover an unimagined sense of personal power through their voice and their mind. They will demand more of themselves, their teachers, their political leaders and their community as they take control of their educational outcomes in new and exciting ways.

With partners serving over a quarter million participants nationwide...

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Atlanta Urban Debate League As part of the commitment, Emory University hosts an Urban Debate League tournament each year, sponsors teacher and student training, coordinates institutes and tournaments with Atlanta Public Schools and other schools in Georgia, provides academic interns and instructional materials, and provides assistance for the establishment of similar programs in cities across the nation.

Austin Urban Debate League - The Austin Urban Debate League creates a vibrant and competitive debate community open to all students in the Austin metropolitan area. In 2004 the league had an initial roster of fourteen high schools, located in the Austin Independent School District and neighboring districts of Del Valle and San Marcos, with former educator Michael Cunningham taking the director position. A leader in digital debate including online webcasts with international partners from Europe and Asia, the league has garnered school system administrative support at the state, district, and local school level. Principals have expressed written and verbal commitment to the League. Both Texas State University and the University of Texas debate programs have partnered with AUDL as well.

The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) utilizes the signature leadership skills of the late New York Congresswoman Bella S. Abzug (1920-1998) to mentor and train high school and college age women and help develop the confidence and skills they need to be effective, dynamic and visionary leaders as well as active and creative participants in civic, political, corporate and community life

Boston Urban Debate League Boston's urban debate league is just underway: it was founded in October of 2004. In the 2004-2005 season, it hosted three tournaments with four participant schools. In the 2005-2006 season, it will host a total of six tournaments with seven member schools. The Boston Urban Debate League (BDL) will continue introducing debate to public schools in the boston area, contributing research and volunteer coaching, and constructing a structure for interschool competition.

BUDL - Baltimore Urban Debate League The Baltimore Urban Debate League*, a citywide non profit organization, utilizes debate as method of reawakening a love for learning. Debate puts students at the center of the learning process and develops literacy, critical thinking, public speaking and research skills that young people need. High school students in the program mentor and teach middle school students who in turn mentor elementary school debaters. All age groups participate in citywide tournaments and community debate events. High school students compete statewide and at national and international tournaments. BUDL currently has programs in over 60 schools in Baltimore.

Columbus Debate League, was founded as a Middle School league in Ohio in partnership with the local school district in 2006 and with Capital University. With 16 active middle schools, the Columbus league has developed a strong program that contributes to the vibrancy of education for the Columbus school district. The Columbus program will begin a partnership with the local ESU branch to pilot additional debate opportunities this spring.

DEBATE-Kansas City Since 1998, DEBATE-Kansas City has engaged over 1,300 middle and high school students in cross examination debate competition. The program’s growth, popularity, and reputation are due to the dedication and commitment of its teachers, students, staff, volunteers, and community partners. DEBATE-Kansas City’s urban debate programs are successful. They improve students’ standardized test scores and GPA's. Develop higher self-esteem, reduce risky behaviors, and increase students’ desire to graduate and attend college. For the third year in a row, 100% of DKC’s debaters graduated on time.

DCUDL - District of Columbia Urban Debate League The District of Columbia Urban Debate League is part of a national movement that seeks to establish competitive public policy debate leagues in traditionally under-resourced public schools in America's inner cities. The league is dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people to learn research skills, participate in intellectual competition, and become confident, articulate citizens.

DUDL--Duval County Urban Debate League A new ALOUD partner representing the first for-profit/school system partnership in the ALOUD universe.� �The Duval Urban Debate League is a comprehensive reform model for underserved middle and high schools facing serious problems with student attendance, discipline, achievement scores, and dropout rates. The model includes organizational and management changes to establish a positive school climate; curricular and instructional innovations to prepare all students for high-level courses in math and English; parent and community involvement to encourage college awareness; and professional development to support the recommended reforms.

The English-Speaking Union of the United States (ESU US) is a non-profit, non-political, educational organization whose mission is to promote scholarship and the advancement of knowledge through the effective use of English in an expanding global community.� Headquartered in New York City, the ESU US implements programs through a network of 72 Branches across the United States. We share a common mission with International ESUs in some 50 other nations and work together on education and exchange programs. ESU US Members nation-wide participate in cultural and social events and provide financial support to sustain our educational programs at the Branch and National levels. Members attend Branch events, host visiting speakers and scholars in their communities, and volunteer to coordinate Branch participation in our National Shakespeare Competition and scholarship and exchange programs and serve as English in Action tutors.

IMPACT COALITION is a nonprofit, mentoring and educational development organization that expands opportunities for urban students, schools and organizational partners by providing debate training, debate curricula, and support services to develop informed, concerned citizens. IMPACT advocates debate as a key to success in building healthier communities and tomorrow’s leaders. In 1991, IMPACT began operations in two colleges. Since then, the Coalition has facilitated debate in over 100 public schools and urban colleges as well as prisons, afterschool agencies, religious venues and other non-traditional settings. IMPACT is an industry leader in providing debate-related mentoring services.

JUDL - Jersey Urban Debate League The Jersey Urban Debate League was established through a grant from George Soros' Open Society Institute and operates in a partnership with FOCUS, Inc. JUDL covers an area with a radius of 10 miles with Newark at the center. The 9 cities involved in the league contain 26 schools serving predominately African-American and Latino students. The league offers training for students and coaches, logistical and financial support for team operation and monthly local debate tournaments. Science High School in Newark began its debate program in 1978. During the ensuing 24 years, Science High has experienced strong competitive success on the state, regional and national debate circuits including 19 years qualifying for the national finals and 20 varsity state championships. The Newark Public School district's central administration stands ready to support the expansion of debate to all Newark's public schools and in their classrooms.

Lancaster Middle School Debate League is a middle school program led by Neighborhood Services in partnership with the Lancaster School District & ALOUD. Neighborhood Services is committed to providing Central Pennsylvania residents with a broad range of programs including personal and financial protection, financial management services, and budget and life skills coaching. We are committed to providing long-term service to a majority of our clients in protective service programs who have documented mental health issues and resulting long-term incapacitation.� Neighborhood Services is committed to all initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods and assist individuals in developing independence and improving quality-of-life through self-empowerment by way of prevention and employment programs and private home ownership.� Neighborhood Services is a United Way member dedicated to serving persons in need of protection and supports programs that empower neighborhoods and individuals to reach their full potential. Neighborhood Services serves the community in a number of areas.

U of Miami Debate Team and Miami Dade Urban Debate League Miami Dade Urban Debate League Miami Dade Urban Debate League is one of the fastest-growing UDLs in the nation with 18 high schools and 14 middle schools participating in the league this year and new schools and students being added at each tournament. Founded by the National Debate project, the program represents a partnership between the Miami-Dade school district, friends of Miami Urban Debate, and the University of Miami.

The Malcolm X Prison Debate Project is a New York City-based organization that seeks to empower incarcerated youth and reduce re-entry into the system. The program supports the establishment of debate programs in youth incarceration centers and connects released students to debate programs throughout New York.

Milwaukee Debate League http://milwaukeedebate.org A recent ALOUD partner, the Milwaukee Debate League fosters the use of debate and discussion as powerful educational tools to engage students and teachers in critical thinking and learning. Initiated by the National Debate Project, the program was founded through a partnership between the Marquette University, NDP and the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust.

Minnesota Urban Debate League The Minnesota Urban Debate League exists to improve urban public education by empowering students to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities. In support of this mission we will:

Increase public awareness of the organization’s goals and objectives
Make decisions based on the best interests of the students and communities we serve
Provide quality, challenging instruction and debate opportunities in safe, supportive environments
Maintain relationships with officials from the government, the media, the advocacy community, business, foundations, and schools
Partner with community leaders, teachers, and college coaches to provide instruction and mentoring opportunities for student participants

National Debate Project consortium was founded by Emory and Georgia State Universities, and was later joined by Clark Atlanta University, New York University, and Tennessee State University. The NDP consults and advocates for other UDLs with Atlanta serving as, the primary target population for pilot programs and new initiatives. Over its history, NDP programs have grown to include the Atlanta Urban Debate League, Emory National Debate Institute, Georgia Middle School Debate League, The Debate Center, Computer Assisted Debate Project, College and High School Bridge Programs, and Debate Across the Curriculum. NDP institutionalizes a collaborative infrastructure to facilitate the nationwide use of debate and discussion as acatalyst for educational reform.

Nashville Urban Debate League The Nashville Urban Debate League is a collaborative project of the Community Education Initiative (CEI), the National Debate Project (NDP) and Tennessee State University (TSU). They are developing and implementing a debate program for students in Middle Tennessee.

Rhode Island Urban Debate League (RIDL) is a cooperative project of the Swearer Center for Public Service and the Institute for Elementary and Secondary Education (IESE) at Brown, the Providence Schools District, the Rhode Island Foundation, and the Open Society Institute in New York. Since the 2000-2001 pilot season, the RIDL has successfully engaged young people all of the Providence Public High Schools. The long-term goal of the RIDL is to enable member schools to institutionalize debate teams and foster growth in the local debate circuit so as to make debate accessible to all students. This program is modeled after urban debate leagues across the country which foster communication skills to empower individuals while working towards improving academic skills. The success of this innovative strategy to promote standards-based literacy increases debate's importance in an education system increasingly conscious of standards and literacy.

Seattle Debate Foundation The Seattle Debate Foundation (SDF) is a youth development foundation committed to introducing debate as a vehicle for academic achievement and student empowerment. Debate is a proven tool to teach critical thinking, communication, and research skills.

SCUDL -Southern California Urban Debate League The goal of the Southern California Urban Debate League (SCUDL) is to teach argument skills to students from underserved high schools. Training in debate improves valuable analytical and speaking skills and it enables the discussion of scientific, historical and political issues. Debate contributes to the intellectual and critical development of its participants by challenging them to make defensible judgments in which they must critically investigate complex issues, question assumptions, evaluate the reliability of evidence and consider alternative perspectives. Debate teaches valuable research, public speaking and cross-examination skills. In short, debate is one of the most rigorous academic pursuits a high school student can undertake and the SCUDL seeks to make that opportunity available to as many students as possible.

www.impactalabama.org SpeakFirst's mission is to enrich the academic experience of gifted students from Birmingham's public high schools through participation on an “all-star” debate team. Starting with a select group of incoming high school freshmen, this highly collaborative initiative addresses a full array of needs in ways proven to be of great academic and civic value. The debate training provided by SpeakFirst will develop students’ critical thinking, presentation, and public-speaking skills. SpeakFirst is one of three signature initiatives of IMPACT Alabama. IMPACT Alabama presents a vision of Alabama in which its young citizens understand, appreciate, and engage actively in civic and public life: contributing their diverse talents to solve local and state problems, influencing public policy, voting, and pursuing the common good.

Tacoma Urban Debate League is a new ALOUD partner. Founded by the Seattle Debate Foundation through partnerships with the Comcast Foundation, University of Puget Sound, the HERO Initiative at the College Success Foundation, Hip Hop Congress and Free Ya Mind Inc., the Tacoma Urban Debate League started with three new high school debate programs at Foss, Lincoln and Mt. Tahoma.

University of Louisiana-Lafayette Debate Team Members of the ULL Debate team have committed to assist area high school students in research; argument and skills development.The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Debate Program is a leading force in the effort to bring return competitive debate to New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the state of Louisiana. In 2008, in conjunction with Teurlings Catholic High School, they hosted the Louisiana Debate Institute attacting interested students from every part of the state. The Louisiana Debate Institute Co-Directors are Dr. Scott Elliott, Director of Debate at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and Marisa Elliott, Director of Forensics at Teurlings Catholic High School. Assistant Director is Chapman Matis.

University of Louisville Malcolm X Debate Program Malcolm X credits his debate experience in prison as a critical part of his development into a civil rights activist and world renowned public speaker. The UofL Malcolm X Debate Program uses debate in the same spirit of Malcolm, to create advocates for groups that lack direct access to democratic institutions of power.

University of West Virginia Debate Team The West Virginia University Debate Team is one of the most accomplished organizations on campus. The goals of the team not only include learning the skills of intercollegiate debate, but taking those skills along with the knowledge gained from the activity and applying it to everyday life. sponsored by the WVU’s top-ranked Political Science department, but includes members from a wide variety of majors. The rapidly growing team travels to many different colleges and universities during its season competing against some of the most highly ranked debate teams in the nation.

University of Vermont - Debate Central DEBATE CENTRAL is a non-profit service of the Lawrence Debate Union and the University of Vermont, and is designed to promote debating at all levels, in all languages, and all around the world.

Wiley College In 1929, Melvin Tolson coached the Wiley debate teams, which established a ten-year winning streak. The Debate Team beat the larger black schools of its day like Tuskegee, Fisk and Howard. According to James Farmer, Tolson's drive to win, to eliminate risk, meant that his debaters were actors more than spontaneous thinkers. In 1935, he led the Wiley Debate Team to the national championship to defeat the University of Southern California before an audience of 1100 people. President Dr. Haywood Strickland has committed to instilling a culture of debate at Wiley and revitalizing the debate team.