Program areas at National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
In 2023, the Urban Debate network served over 10,000 debaters from 728 schools in 20 Urban Debate Leagues. Over 70% 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 2023, we had 10 fellows internships and spent $43,775. Additonally in fy23, naudl received a grant of $29,469 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) was held in dallas in fy23. Each of naudl's 21 league partners were eligible for two varsity high school Debate pairs to compete. 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. The debater of the year and seven finalists received small college scholarships. A coach of the year was also recognized with a small stipend.
Pilot scholarship program for eight (8) students -- identified from the boston, chicago, los angeles, Washington (d.c.) Leagues, to attend the annual summer dartmouth Debate institute. Selection outreach was based on league partners that have a history of competitive Debate, have shown a consistency in responsiveness, and that expressed an active interest to nominate debaters for the scholarship. Expenses covered tuition, room and board, student travel and incidentals.