National Association for Urban Debate Leagues

In 2022, the Urban Debate network served 7,500 debaters from 530 schools representing 22 Debate Leagues in Urban areas around the nation. Over 70 percent are from low income families and over 80% are students of color.

The naudl fellows internship is a scalable (virtual) workplace skills/mentorship program for qualified Urban Debate alums (at least two years of college completed). Projects engage fellows in multiple roles and provide an opportunity to lead an initiative, function or process with naudl or a league. Naudl senior staff provided ongoing oversight, coaching and assessment. Additionally, group roundtables are hosted (via zoom), featuring professional volunteers, in the widely- accepted eight competencies for career-readiness. In 2022, we had 10 fellows internships and spent $44,459. Additonally in fy22, naudl received a grant of $25,000 to support the naudl fellow program through the alumni success program and scholarships/academic support for Urban debaters or debaters of extreme financial need. Naudl has been trying to maximize the academic and career success of the students we have been serving in the manner which creates the most benefit for the largest number of students.

Naudl's Urban Debate National championship (udnc), naudl's marquee competition, was held virtually in fy22. Each of naudl's 22 league partners were eligible for two varsity high school Debate pairs to compete. Additionally, the tournament included an evidence-limited jv division for the first time. The goal of this division is to reward diligent jv debaters who have persisted in Debate during the last two seasons. Participation also provided an opportunity for more debaters to see themselves as part of the broader Urban Debate community. Finally, the udnc served as a forum to host the annual naudl coach appreciation ceremony, celebrating the commitment and dedication of the nearly 500 coaches in the Urban Debate network.

"i resolve" seeks to showcase the power for a public audience while exploring some of the most pressing issues in our society. Its value is in the perspective, voice and values of the next generation of leaders: high school debaters. The 90-minute programs are centered around student arguments and subsequent feedback, discussion, and q&a via a panel of distinguished civic and community leaders. Presenters are joined by an audience of student peers, school district and league leaders, naudl and league donors, partners, and Debate champions. I resolve was a public Debate program that highlights the power of Debate for audiences that may not be familiar with it. In fall 2021, participating Leagues (i.e., lamdl, svudl, hudl & tdl) attended multiple practices and trainings to pull off the event. Three Leagues received a league grant of $7,500 except tdl which received $5,000 plus two $500 scholarships for participating debaters in the program. Other expenditures involved platform and advertising costs for naudl to stream and host the events.