The BAUDL Great Debates happened October 26 in downtown San Francisco - some of our most exciting young debaters threw down on the San Francisco budget crisis, putting on a show of fast-paced verbal fireworks that was not to be missed. They worked extremely hard researching and assessing the issue, and were full of creative ideas for change.

Meet the debaters below!

With public budgets in crisis and crucial programs on the chopping block, young people in the Bay Area face two serious problems: their future seems more and more uncertain, and the political systems around them seem to care less and less about what they think.

On October 26th, a group of San Francisco youth will attempt to tackle both problems, speaking out on their city’s budget crisis and offering positive proposals for change. As part of the Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL), these young people have spent the past months researching city budgets across America and preparing themselves to debate both sides of dozens of reform ideas.

Says debater Marshon Darden-Smith of the June Jordan School for Equity: “Our generation has ideas and we see what’s going on around us – we see things from different lenses, we come from different communities, and we have ideas that can make an impact.” Her partner Lorren Dangerfield echoes her sentiments, noting that “these issues affect us as young people. What they choose now is what’s going to shape our lives later. These are our decisions, too.”

Downtown High debate alum Robin Bonner has been working to coordinate the Leading with Debate Fellowship, a public leadership program run by the BAUDL. Recently inducted as a member of the San Francisco Youth Commission, Robin sees her work as a chance to give back to young people like herself: “As an alum of the BAUDL program, I am honored to be in a position to mentor students who are living the life I used to lead.”

According to Bonner, the Great Debates are a must-see event because “unlike many political events, it will be unfiltered. Young people can be open to speak the way they want on real issues without the need to censor themselves. Their opinions will be grounded in research, but they will also be raw and lively.”

See these amazing debaters Wednesday night!