We create access to academic debate opportunities for public school students in New York City to empower the next generation of informed, compassionate, and courageous leaders.
In 2011 there were many neighborhoods in New York City with no debate programs. NYC school teachers came together to reverse this, and the New York City Urban Debate League (NYCUDL) was founded. We started with one school and we were funded by bake sales! Thanks to the law firm, Brown Rudnick, we became a nonprofit charity and had the support to expand citywide! Over the past twelve years, the League has helped grow the number of NYC schools with debate opportunities in these neighborhoods to 200+ schools and 3,500+ students, and we are proud to be the largest urban debate league in the country.
In 2013, the NYCUDL was honored by the White House, the National Institute for Museum and Library Studies, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts as the nation’s top after school program.
