The Great Debate

So often the voices of young people barely register in debates about education reform and the juvenile justice system.  On March 29, students from the Bay Area Urban Debate League showed that youth voice can be as well-researched and enthralling as anything adults have to offer.

In front of a raucous, full crowd in Oakland, BAUDL youth lit up the night with their passion and insight. Celebrity judges including City Councilmember Desley Brooks, Board of Education member Alice Spearman, and Reverend Kwasi Thornell of St. Augustine’s Church helped to make the night special.

Shah and William

Exhibition: Waiting for Superman? William Hampton-Bruce started off the night with a fiery speech advocating that all OUSD schools be gradually turned into charter schools, rooted in his own experience but drawing in academic research. Shah Turner countered with a stream of stormy statistics on the checkered history of charter schools, finishing with the point that many charter schools are even more segregated than urban public schools.

Zakiya and Elisa

Great Debate: Juvenile Justice. The Great Debate was intense – sparks flew
when Zakiya Moore kicked off the debate with a call to end youth incarceration entirely and replace it with community-based rehabilitation.  Elisa and Ciera on the negative countered with a plan to invest in educational programs that could help to prevent the problem of youth crime. In response to a question from the audience, Chris Marquez gave an inspired defense of debate as one such program – and his point was immediately stolen by Elisa on the negative!

A tremendously exciting night.  Hope you have the chance to see one soon!

Rashid judges a round at the 2011 Summer Institute

BAUDL Alum Rashid Campbell went 6-2 at CEDA Nationals this weekend, advancing to the Sweet 16 in the nation’s largest college tournament as a sophomore. This kind of a performance is nearly unprecedented, and we are bursting with appreciation for this young intellectual.

Rashid will be on staff at the BAUDL Summer Institute – and those who have been there know that he rocks the house.  We also just confirmed Andres Gannon and Sarah Weiner, one of the top college teams in the country this year – along with Liz Jones, former Top Speaker at CEDA Nationals.

The summer institute will be amazing – students in our partner districts and schools get in free, and can register online: http://baudl.org/register.htm

Here’s the word from Rashid’s old coach Chris Scheer: Continue reading ‘BAUDL Alum Tears Up the College Debate Circuit’

Over 70 BAUDL youth debated at the March Madness Tournament last Saturday.

Last Saturday, dozens of BAUDL youth participated in the March Madness Tournament at the June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco. The tournament served as an opportunity for the BAUDL youth to practice their debate skills and hone their arguments in preparation for the State Qualifying Tournament, which will be on March 17 at Santa Rosa High School.

Our debaters learned a lot at the tournament and had a lot of fun! The debates were marked by intensity and the rounds were close, but all the winning teams went undefeated in their divisions.

Continue reading ‘March Madness Tournament a success!’

The Summer Debate Institute Begins this Week! On Monday, dozens of young people will join with some of the country’s top debate experts for a weeklong workshop in debate. All registered students – and a limited number of guests – will be welcome.

If you want a last-minute guest pass, call Program Director Perry Green at 510-575-9131.

An experience like no other — sign-up for the Summer Debate Institute today!

We have gathered some of the top debaters in the nation to help you get a taste of what debate is all about. Our workshops are not like regular classes: they help you build important skills, but they do it through interactive high-energy activities that focus on the power of your voice.

Breakfast and lunch, as well as bus and BART passes to and from the institute will be provided.

The Summer Debate Institute is free to all young people who attend BAUDL schools and schools in Oakland and San Francisco Unified School Districts. However, other students are welcome with a small tuition.

There will be prizes given out every day, including iPods and gift cards.

Dates: Monday, August 6 to Friday, August 10
Times: 9AM to 4PM
Place: Westlake School – 2629 Harrison St.
Oakland, California

On the night of March 29, the BAUDL will host an inspiring youth-led public debate on two important issues in the Oakland community: juvenile justice and the fate of charter schools.

The BAUDL Great Debates event features some of the most talented young orators of the Bay Area in action, speaking out with passionate wisdom on the hardest and most important issues of our age — all in front of a live audience.

The young leaders of the BAUDL have been hard at work all year honing their debating skills, researching the most crucial political and social issues facing their generation, and developing the power of their words to make positive changes in their communities.

We thank you for joining us in a celebration of the dedication of these young people, and in a discussion of solutions to the issues they bring to the table.

The evening promises to be exciting and informative  – these young people have a lot to tell us about urgent matters and they are more than ready to speak their minds. Prepare for an exciting night!