Minnesota Urban Debate League, THANKS TO YOU: Fall/Winter 2015

THANKS TO YOU PROGRAMMING UPDATE | FALL/WINTER 2015

(Photo courtesy of Armand Hayes Photography)

Minnesota Urban Debate League, a program of Augsburg College

DIRECTOR’S LETTER As I start my seventh year with the MNUDL, I am profoundly grateful to you for your incredible support.

say: “The timer stops and it doesn’t end there.”

I am grateful to our institutional funders, to

As one of our students expresses in our MPS

our incredibly giving teachers and community

research report: “Debate makes you a wiser

coaches, and most of all grateful to our

person.” Learning from our students has

amazing students and families. We ask for our

certainly made me a wiser person, and I am

students to Let Their Voice Be Heard –each

thrilled to continue to grow and strengthen

and every day they are accomplishing this

our debate community with your help – so

goal.

that young voices will be heard.

Our world faces complex problems –conflict,

There is so much more to do and I am excited

poverty, and racism, to name a few; all issues

to have you be a part of our team.

Together we are giving our students the resources they need to be changemakers in our community.

that our students think critically about as they debate solutions. These advocacy skills grow in each debate round, but as our students

With gratitude,

Amy

OUR STAFF

From left: Sam Hartzell (Marketing and PR Coordinator), Travis Ormsby (Program Director), Bob Groven (Faculty Director), Genesia Williams (Administrative and Program Assistant), Amy Cram Helwich (Executive Director), Monica Finke (Volunteer Coordinator), and Jake Swede (Program Associate) Photo courtesy of Augsburg College, taken by Stephen Geffre

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Mayor Coleman judges winner of Mayor’s Challenge debate between Minneapolis and St. Paul debaters Minneapolis and St. Paul went head to head last May as we held our third annual Mayor’s Challenge. Thank you to everyone who made this event a huge success!

Chris Oquist (Roosevelt) and Ash Farah (South) from Minneapolis Public Schools debated against Dwight Smith (Washington Technology) and Angela Aryiku (Como Park) from Saint Paul Public Schools.

The two teams debated on the topic of containing the spread of invasive aquatic species in Minnesota lakes and waterways, presenting thorough research and strong arguments.

The Minneapolis team narrowly defeated the St. Paul team, although Mayor Coleman judged it a draw.

These four talented students were an inspiration to the over 150 people who attended the annual event. As active citizens who

THE ‘NEG’ WINS : Debaters Chris Oquist and Ash Farah win the 2015 Mayor’s Challenge Debate.

Photo courtesy of Augsburg College, taken by Stephen Geffre

advocate for themselves and their communities, we are confident these young people will lead us well into the future.

Thank you to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, attorney Don Lewis (Nilan Johnson Lewis), and Barb Schmitt (Microsoft) for judging the debate.

In the words of South High School Debater Ash Farah: thanks to debate “I don’t have to be the shy kid in the back. I can have a voice, and I can argue.”

SUMMER FELLOWSHIP From the Debate Podium to the Court Room: Thank You, Law Firms!

Roosevelt High School debater Chris Oquist spent the summer at Gray Plant Mooty, earning a stipend and financial support to attend the MNUDL’s summer debate camp – a vital part of a debater’s education!

Chris wrote an essay at the conclusion of his Fellowship, summarizing the experience. Below is an excerpt: Working at Gray Plant has given me plenty of opportunities to meet new people, see

Dean Eyler, chairman of the MNUDL Advisory Board and an attorney at Gray Plant Mooty, worked closely with Chris during the Fellowship. He had this to say: “I’m very proud of the Fellow program, which we’ve done now for 6 years,” said Dean. “The real purpose is to invest in our great students and help them see themselves succeeding in a professional environment, so they can dream bigger!”

different parts of the legal field and spark

Thank you to the Gray Plant Mooty

new interest for my future career... What I

Foundation for the creation of the

liked about being here is how many people I know think highly of me. That gives me a great feeling and helps me believe that my future will be as great as I want it to be.

Summer Fellowship Program.

To read Chris’ full essay, visit our blog.◊

Your Firm or Business Can Create Opportunity By Hosting a Summer Fellowship “I’ve always enjoyed getting to know our Fellows... and that was true again this summer with Chris. It’s a great way for a business to make a positive impact with a specific person.”

- Dean Eyler, GPM

Firms and businesses interested in hosting a Summer Debate Fellow should contact us directly: Via email: mnudl@augsburg.edu Or by phone: 612-330-1730

FUNDRAISING

Give To The Max Day is November 12th this year.

On Give to the Max Day last year the Minnesota Urban Debate League raised nearly $10,000 to support competitive academic debate.

This was possible through the efforts of all our friends and supporters. It was a community effort, a lot of fun, and a big success.

Minnesotans will participate in 24 hours of charitable giving to support non-profits doing great work in our communities.

We hope to do even better this year! Please consider making your Give to the Max Day donation in support of the MNUDL and the hundreds of wonderful young debaters we serve!

See what Brandon Bogan, an Alum of the MNUDL, had to say last year about his experience and the importance of Giving To The Max.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES Congressman Addresses Students, Families, and Community Members at First Somali Policy Debate Tournmanent STUDENTS AT 1ST SOMALI PILOT DEBATE, Held at Augsburg College this past spring Middle and High School Students are seen pictured with Congressman Ellison just after the community forum which followed the 1st Somali Policy Debate Tournament.

Our Somali Debate Initiative pilot program, the first of its kind in the country, is expanding thanks to a Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant from the Headwaters Foundation for Justice.

The day was highlighted locally on Kare 11 News. As

Last spring, thanks to donors like you, more than 30

solutions that we can implement right now whether it is

Somali middle and high students participated in the innovative pilot. It culminated in a jam-packed day with three rounds of debate, awards, and a community forum lead by Congressman Ellison and notable

Photo courtesy of Augsburg College, taken by Stephen Geffre

described by Awale Osman, “The debate,” focused on the remittance crisis in Somalia, “is not about what’s wrong or what’s right. It’s about what are the different the short term or long term.”

See our students on Kare 11: “Augsburg hosts first debate tournament for Somali students”

community leaders including Ilhan Omar –Senior Policy Aid to City Council Member Andrew Johnson –

Thanks to the Headwaters grant and your support, the

and also Osman Gabiere, who is the former Director

Somali Debate Initiative will soon expand to reach

of Division of Bank Supervision and Licensing for the

more debaters and more schools at three tournaments

Central Bank of Somalia.

this year. ◊

CLE PANEL

2015

THANK YOU, ATTORNEYS! Last June, the MNUDL hosted a Continuing Legal Education panel at Augsburg College’s Kennedy Center.

The CLE discussed increasing the diversity

Levy-Pounds, and Ann Anaya of 3M. We’re

pipeline in the legal field. The panel

extending a special thank you for their

featured dynamic speakers, including:

time and expertise and to the attorneys

Honorable Judge Hildy Bowbeer, Honorable

in the audience who participated in the

Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan, Professor Nekima

conversation! ◊

MPS REPORT 2015 The results are in: Research report proves that your support for debate changes lives for the better.

Photo courtesy of Armand Hayes Photography

Competitive academic debate is closing the opportunity gap and developing 21st Century Skills in participants. That is the conclusion of the 2014-15 Urban Debate League MPS Evaluation.

In the research report, debaters explained how debate helped them expand their worldview, taught them to think critically about different viewpoints and issues, and seek evidence to learn more.

“As one student noted, ‘the timer stops and it doesn’t end there.’”

Students speaking anonymously in focus groups tell their stories of debate: “I’m not thinking about me, or the people around me. I’m thinking globally, politically, economically...I’m thinking about how it will affect other people.”

“I think something that also comes from looking at the world more critically because of debate is that you’re more willing to speak up, when you see these bad things happening.”

“The knowledge you learn makes you a wiser person. Now you have a point of view of looking at different things in life... You’ll actually think about it: How would I change it? Overall it just makes you a wiser person.”

As the report states: “The academic benefits of participation are clear and supported by evidence.”

These proven results are what your support makes possible. Thanks to your passion for the cause, young people are raising their voices and lifting themselves up.

Thank you!

THANKS TO YOU: More Programming Support to Our Students!

New staff have joined the MNUDL’s team! Monica Finke and Sam Hartzell are our new AmeriCorps VISTA members. Jake Swede has come onboard as the new Program Associate, and Travis Ormsby has been promoted to Program Director. ◊

#GoTeamGo

BOARD ENGAGEMENT

“The MNUDL can be a powerful force for expanding opportunity and growing the diversity pipeline for professional jobs in Minnesota.” Thank you to our Advisory Board!

Dean reflects on his experience with the MNUDL: I am an attorney at Gray Plant Mooty practicing intellectual property and commercial litigation.

I loved my experience in high school and

Dean Eyler is the Chair of the

college debate, and have enjoyed supporting

MNUDL’s Advisory Board.

students in the activity for years.

Dean has been involved with

Debate is amazingly valuable because it helps

academic debate and the MNUDL

students learn and challenge themselves in

for 6 years, and was instrumental

so many ways. Students learn about many

in founding the MNUDL’s Summer

important topics, and even more importantly

Fellowship Program (read more

they gain self-confidence, speaking and critical

about the Fellowship on page 2).

thinking skills, and make great friendships.

In the last 5 years, the MNUDL has grown so much in our partnerships with the school districts, the addition of middle school debate, staff additions, expanded fundraising and advisory board activities, pilot projects to reach new groups of students.

I’m probably most excited about some of the great initiatives to reach even more students of color and our pilot projects for Spanish and Somali debate. In this way, the MNUDL can be a powerful force for expanding opportunity and growing the diversity pipeline for all kinds of professional jobs in Minnesota. ◊

“Debate is much more than an extracurricular activity, it naturally becomes family.”

Thank you to our distinguished alums giving back!

Kristell Caballero Saucedo recently joined the MNUDL’s Young Professional Board.

After immigrating to the United States, Kristell debated for Minneapolis North High School, became a Fulbright Scholar and spent the last year living in Hungary, and today works on racial equity and inclusion as a New Sector

Alliance Fellow at Northside Funders

In addition, it sparked my interest in

Group and as a member of the MNUDL

politics and influenced my major in

Young Professionals Advisory Board.

college and my current career path on

Kristell reflects on her experience as a former debater:

human rights and racial equity and inclusion.

There are many great people in the

I am Kristell Caballero Saucedo, a 2009

MNUDL community. My high school

MNUDL alumna from Minneapolis

coach, Eli Brennan was one of them.

North High School. Professionally, I

He became a supportive father figure

focus my work on research on ethnic

to both me and my debate partner; for

minorities rights and activism.

many MNUDL students, debate is much more than an extracurricular activity, it

The MNUDL impacted my life by giving me the opportunity to learn beyond what I was taught in school.

naturally becomes family. ◊

DEBATE SEASON UPDATES

Debate Season Launches at Washington Tech: Much Pizza Devoured, Many Awards Won. (Photo courtesy of Armand Hayes Photography)

It was an exciting day of debating, healthy competition, tasty pizza, and fun when nearly 200 debaters from 17 schools came to Washington

Aleda Hoover and Ben Jaeger took 2nd place in Novice division for Roosevelt High School. And Washington Technology’s Browerti Koffah and Zarina Sementelli won 3rd place in Junior Varsity.

Technology Magnet School in Saint Paul, MN for the season opener!

Never Huber, from Washburn, was the 1st place speaker in Varsity division.

With 11 brand new volunteer judges attending, workshops for rookie debaters, and much applause at the award ceremony –the debate season started off on a high note.

Highland Park’s Dan Bannister and Ian Dill took home the 1st place trophy for Varsity division. Central’s Joseph Walbran won Novice, and South High School’s Eiset Mebrahtu and Ben Phi were the Rookie division champions.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the debate. And a huge thanks to all of our friends and supporters for making debate possible for hundreds of young people.

Your help makes the success of our students possible!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Get Involved: Use your smarts, share your knowledge, be a judge!

Volunteering to be a debate judge is the perfect way to get involved and makes the MNUDL’s programming possible.

By judging at debate tournaments, you will give debaters constructive feedback to foster growth while also encouraging students. You’ll think fast, using your reasoning skills and knowledge to determine who has made the best arguments, and be a fair and supportive judge.

We love that our volunteers come from both inside and outside the debate community because it gives our students new perspectives to consider when making their arguments.

If you would like to sit in the judge chair at an upcoming tournament, please contact Monica Finke : finkem@augsburg.edu | 612-359-6463 (Photo courtesy of Armand Hayes Photography)

MINNESOTA URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE Campus Box 26 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454

(Photo courtesy of Alex Brown)

augsburg.edu/urbandebateleague facebook.com/MNUDL twitter.com/MNUrbanDebate

Angela Aryiku, a student at Como Park Senior High School, was asked what debate meant to her, she said: “Debate helps you with your public speaking, presentation skills, and helps you make analytical arguments you never thought you would be able to make... Debate can take me anywhere, trust me.”

Because of you, voices like Angela’s are rising to the top.

THANK YOU.