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Our Impact

2025-2026

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Testimonials

What I love most about debate is that it allows me to combine my love for critical theory and literary analysis with competition. Debate topics always require us to make arguments about how the world around us should be, this has allowed me to explore the applications of critical theory in a very practical way. The competition aspect allows my ideas to be challenged and discussed by other brilliant students.

My proudest moment in debate has very little to do with winning. When debating the topic of Generative AI’s use in education, me and my partner made a very out there argument. We used Linguistics and Etymology to argue that the resolution implies that AI’s use in education also included it being educated. Through this we argued that the topic was really about if generative AI should exist or not. There was a certain rush I got going into a round and knowing that opponents would not be expecting our argument. Of all the creative arguments we have made since beginning debate in 7th grade, this one felt like the most sound and logical. It also didn’t hurt that we got a winning record at the tournament.

The most obvious skills I have gotten through debate have been research and public speaking. Debate has always put me a step ahead of my peers when applying these in school, and it has turned scary looking research projects into a piece of cake. All things I have learned from debate have helped me in my goal of becoming a human rights lawyer, and I am forever grateful that I started debating so long ago.

Julian Moten

I have been debating with the UDL for a total of 6 years. I have debated in the public forum format for 4 years and 2 years in Lincoln Douglas. I am currently back to doing PF with the dream team. What I love most about debate is the environment and people of debate. There is so much passion and enthusiasm when I’m in a setting where people can express their ideas in a way that makes them feel strong. I love how debate has helped me become a person who can express what my thoughts and emotions are in a way where I can make them into arguments for other people to respond too.

My proudest moment at the UDL was getting the opportunity to join the dream team. This team has made me the debater I am today and it has opened more opportunities for me such being able to go to Philadelphia and being able to teach younger students the art of debate.

Debating with the UDL has helped me in my daily life by helping me critically develop ideas on the spot in school and writing and talking more confidently and with more knowledge. Debate has helped me a lot in English and Global history as there is a lot of complex things and debate has always been a benefit to me in these classes.

Katherine Hernandez

I have been debating for the last two years! I love being able to expand my knowledge by understanding different perspectives on an issue. I've always thought that life isn't black or white but a gamma of different shades of gray. Debate has allowed me to see life through an alternative lens and see more colors.

I especially love debating about economic systems. It’s a topic I was a little bit skeptical about at first, however, I was amazed when I discovered how economic systems affect all the areas in our daily lives. I learned things that have shaped my way of thinking.

My proudest moment in debate was when I was recognized as one of the best teams in the first tournament I debated at!

John Lendof

At the beginning of the year, a friend of mine took a class with me and was impressed by my ability to articulate myself. They asked me to join my school’s debate team, and I said yes!

I love getting to learn something new every time I begin research for a new topic. I especially loved the national topic about the International Criminal Court. Even though national topics tend to have a worldwide focus, this topic felt close to home and was something that I felt I needed to know about for my own country and life.

This was also the first time that my partner and I went undefeated! Fortunately, we were able to continue our winning streak, and winning the Open League Championships with my partner was definitely my proudest moment of my debate career.

Amber McCain-Brown

Debater Testimonials

Nasiah Anderson
Columbia Secondary School
NYCUDL Gala Student Speaker 2025
“Solving problems requires more than equations; it takes empathy, communication, and action.”

The New York City Urban Debate League sparked my curiosity, deepened my understanding of the world, and gave me the tools to advocate for change. Debate also opened doors beyond the rounds. I joined Teens Take Charge, working on campaigns to fight educational inequity and gentrification in New York City. While working there, I helped brainstorm a website to connect low-income BIPOC students with internships and enrichment opportunities. I also joined an engineering program at MIT, where I used my debate skills to present research and show how science and communication go hand-in-hand.

Now, as a senior, I’ve also had the chance to give back to my team. I’ve mentored younger debaters, helping them write cases, prepare for rounds, and even win their first tournament. Watching them grow reminded me of my own journey; a full circle moment from the kid who never won to one helping others succeed. I also led community-based workshops with my team at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Riverside Church in Harlem to introduce more students and adults to debate. Debate also helped me when it came time to apply to college. I had the writing organizational skills to craft essays that were well-reflective, well-structured, and true to my voice. More importantly, I had the confidence to share my lived experiences. 

I’ll be attending Lafayette College as a Posse Foundation Scholar, where I plan to major in environmental engineering. As I pursue this path, I carry with me the belief that advocacy and innovation go hand-in-hand. Solving problems requires more than equations; it takes empathy, communication, and action.

Julian Moten
Institute for Collaborative Education
NYCUDL Gala Student Speaker 2024

“Debate allows my ideas to be challenged and discussed by other brilliant students.“

What I love most about debate is that it allows me to combine my love for critical theory and literary analysis with competition. Debate topics always require us to make arguments about how the world around us should be, this has allowed me to explore the applications of critical theory in a very practical way. The competition aspect allows my ideas to be challenged and discussed by other brilliant students.

My proudest moment in debate has very little to do with winning. When debating the topic of Generative AI’s use in education, me and my partner made a very out-there argument. We used Linguistics and Etymology to argue that the resolution implies that AI’s use in education also included it being educated. Through this we argued that the topic was really about if generative AI should exist or not. There was a certain rush I got going into a round and knowing that opponents would not be expecting our argument. Of all the creative arguments we have made since beginning debate in 7th grade, this one felt like the most sound and logical. It also didn’t hurt that we got a winning record at the tournament. 

The most obvious skills I have gotten through debate have been research and public speaking. Debate has always put me a step ahead of my peers when applying these in school, and it has turned scary looking research projects into a piece of cake. All things I have learned from debate have helped me in my goal of becoming a human rights lawyer, and I am forever grateful that I started debating so long ago.

Jazmine Chavez
High School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering
NYCUDL Gala Student Speaker 2023

“I was once shy, timid, and quiet, but now I can confidently assert I am a self-assured individual.“

This year marks the fourth year of my debate career. I competed throughout middle school, and early on I recognized that many other students in the South Bronx did not have the same opportunity. The Urban Debate League was an outlet for me to express myself and voice my opinions. I delved into subjects ranging from politics and philosophy to science and current affairs, becoming more and more aware of the world around me and driven to make a difference. These tournaments had a significant impact on my personal growth, enabling me to stand up for what is right. I was once shy, timid, and quiet, but now I can confidently assert I am a self-assured individual who can present myself with conviction and poise.

Through the Urban Debate League, I have learned to embrace intellectual diversity and appreciate the power of dialogue and the value of listening attentively to opposing viewpoints. It is in those moments of thoughtful exchange that we often find the seeds of innovation and inspiration. The friendships I’ve made through debate have not only endured but thrived as we continue to support and inspire one another in our pursuit of knowledge and personal growth. As I reflect on the power of debate in my life, I embrace the opportunity to continue to train my mind to think critically, to question boldly, and to harvest knowledge as a force for positive change.

Abigail Cadet
Star Early College High School
NYCUDL Gala Student Speaker 2022

“Debate allows room for creativity and teaches skills that you may not receive in a typical classroom.“

Looking back at my growth from seventh grade, I can confidently say that because of debate, I have become more willing to put myself in situations that challenge me because I now know that they are opportunities to grow rather than something to avoid. I even expanded my comfort zones outside of debate tournaments. I now represent my grade as a part of my student government. I create and lead workshops at my college prep program, and I coach parliamentary debate to national award-winning middle schoolers. I have achieved top speaker and team awards within the NYCUDL, with my most recent accomplishment being one of the 2022 Public Forum Open Division State Champions. None of this could’ve happened without me learning how to overcome challenges, be patient with myself, and embrace mistakes, all of which I learned from debate. 

Many students learned how to research and argue about different issues within their school settings; however, when you implement critical research and argumentative speaking outside of the classroom, you begin to understand the importance of these skills in your everyday life. Debate allows room for creativity and teaches skills that you may not receive in a typical classroom. The Urban Debate League is important because it provides a community for students to express themselves and find strength through discomfort.