National Debate Project (http://communication.gsu.edu/ndp/default.htm ) was contacted by a private donor who has made a commitment of $1 million over a 3 year period to form a new urban debate league in Milwaukee. 135 students and teachers from a pilot year group of 11 schools will attend the Emory National Debate Institute next week to receive initial training and build a new debate community. A partnership has been forged between the NDP and Marquette University with strong support from the Milwaukee Public Schools and their superintendent. Capacity will be built at Marquette to add urban debate faculty to the Marquette University Debate Institute, a 27 year old program that has served the region well, for their 2007 and 2008 institutes to facilitate local training of the Milwaukee UDL population.

Tom Noonan, Director of Debate at Marquette University, will serve as the technical advisor to the program. Tom has been the long time coach at Marquette University High School and is a past president of the Wisconsin Debate Coaches Association. Dave Denomie (Emory debate alum and Tuna Snider debate institute lab alum) has accepted the position of full time administrator for the league. A Native American, Dave has had a long career in building non-profit organizations for various Native American groups, most recently working with the elderly.

The Associated Leaders of Urban Debate welcome this city. Dave can be contacted at dave@denomie.net; Tom at Thomas.Noonan@marquette.edu