Who We Are:
The Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL) is a nonprofit organization that uses the excitement of competitive academic debate to help young people build strong voices to succeed in high school, college, and the world.
BAUDL is part of a nationwide movement that is bringing the smart sport of debate back to under-resourced public high schools. Our community is 75% low-income and 90% young people of color. BAUDL levels the playing field, ensuring that urban youth have access to the same rigorous and engaging competition as their suburban peers. Through debate, students become articulate and informed leaders in their schools and communities.
What We Do:
BAUDL helps young people in the Bay Area find their voice and realize their potential through debate. All of BAUDL's programs are provided completely free of charge, allowing low-income students to compete alongside students of more privileged backgrounds.
- After School Debate Teams - Connecting students to an extracurricular academic network by teaching debate fundamentals and providing personal coaching and mentorship.
- Travel Team - Students engage in additional practice with a professional debate coach and receive the opportunity to travel nationally while participating in the highest level of competitive debate.
- Tournaments & Workshops - The entire league comes together to compete in tournaments, giving students the opportunity to put their hard work to the test. Students gain a wealth of information from expert lab leaders at workshops.
- Middle School League - Introducing younger students to the world of debate, setting them on a path to success before entering high school.
- Julia Burke Debate Institute - BAUDL's annual summer debate camp brings over 100 students together for 5 days of engaging, fast-paced learning through workshops and lectures led by accomplished debaters from around the country.
- National Summer Institute Scholarships - BAUDL sends students to prestigious debate institutes at colleges around the US, providing the unique opportunity to learn on a university campus, alongside a diverse group of debaters from across the country.
- Professional Development - Teachers gain the training necessary to become successful debate coaches, enabling them to recruit and maintain strong debate teams.
- Leading With Debate Fellowship - A community engagement program focused on providing connections between BAUDL youth and members of the community through public speeches, community debates, and other collaborations.
- Career Pathways - This program provides opportunities for students to gain real-life exposure to careers that utilize the valuable skills gained through debate.