About

 

“Imagine graduating from high school each year millions of underprivileged teenagers with the ability to articulate their needs, the needs of others, and the ability to offer solutions. I am convinced that someone would be forced to listen to them.” Ed Lee, Debate Coach, Emory University

 

The Urban Debate League of Atlanta is a partnership effort between Georgia State University, Emory University, and the Atlanta Public School system to promote debate as a tool for empowering urban and rural youth living in America’s most socio-economically challenged communities. In the spirit of preparing future leaders who can both engage their communities and successfully advocate for their needs, we seek to extend the benefits of debate and advocacy training to traditionally underserved student and teacher populations.

Currently, we are seeking to accomplish this mission in several ways.

• The Computer Assisted Debate project is a collaborative effort on the part of the Atlanta Housing Authority, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Atlanta Public School System, TechBridge, and the National Debate Project. CAD’s purpose is to provide a challenging and engaging after-school learning experience for middle school students in Atlanta. Currently, we are in our fourth year of working with Carson Middle School, and our third year of work with Harper Archer Middle School.
• Students compete in monthly Middle School Debate Tournaments, another one of the AUDL’s endeavors. These events bring students from all over Atlanta together in dialogue over issues of national importance.
• Because so many of our students remain involved in debate during high school, we also run a weekly High School Debate Center for Atlanta Public School Students, held at Georgia State.

This blog is intended to serve as a space in which the weekly events of Atlanta’s Urban Debate League are chronicled, and will devote specific attention to the achievements of students involved in the Computer Assisted Debate Program, Middle School Debate Tournaments, and the Atlanta High School Debate Center. Not only will we keep track of program events and student achievements, but this will also be a space in which student’s voices can be heard. Our belief is that, given the right tools, today’s children can be powerful advocates for social change, both on the local and global levels.