News from Baltimore Urban Debate League, February 2008

From an email sent out to supporters of BUDL.

The BUDL BUZZ
Baltimore Urban Debate League
February 2008
BUDL Buzz image

Dear Friends of the Baltimore Urban Debate League,

We have had fantastic momentum so far in 2008! Thanks to all of you for the support and encouragement you have offered to our students and teachers in so many ways. Give a young person the tools, knowledge and opportunity to express themselves, and they are unstoppable.

Winter Highlights

# In the last couple months alone BUDL students: Held a series of live debates on the importance of teen voting and the importance of political participation by youth.
# Were featured on WBAL TV 11 and in the Baltimore Sun for their breathtaking debate during a Black History Month event in front of Baltimore's corporate community leaders at the Eastside District Court. The topic they engaged was the harms and merits of Gangster Rap.
# Participated in a Q&A moderated by BCPSS CEO Dr. Andres Alonso following a Baltimore Urban Debate League Screening of the "The Great Debaters" at the Charles Theater. The students made sure that guests were aware of the current day great debaters who will be taking their place as Baltimore's leaders of tomorrow.
# Competed at the highest levels of debate at the Harvard National Invitational Forensics Tournament.

Thanks again for all you give to the League, we look forward to seeing you at Celebrating Success 2008 at Center Stage on Thursday evening April 24th.

Pam Spiliadis
Executive Director

Wire Image Coming attractions - BUDL on "The Wire"

This Sunday, March 2, the Baltimore Urban Debate League will be featured on HBO's hit series, "The Wire."
Tune in to see BUDL's Hollywood debut!
Discuss the episode online ...

BUDL in the News

In January, League students were special guests on Marc Clarke's Big Phat Morning Show on 92Q (92.3FM). They discussed the power of the youth vote. Click here for the full story.

Debaters were also featured during a Black History Month commemorative event at the Eastside District Court House. Four varsity debaters made cases on the topic of whether gangster rap is detrimental to the black community. The event was attended by city dignitaries, lawyers and other community members and was televised on WBAL Channel 11 and reported in the Baltimore Sun. (In the photo left to right: Denaya Barnes, Brion X, Magda Phillips and City Councilman Bernard "Jack" Young.) Click here for the full story.
BUDLers compete at Harvard tournament

For the second year in a row, top BUDL teams traveled to the prestigious Harvard National Invitational Forensics Tournament, one of the largest and most competitive tournaments in the United States. And while the results are still coming in, they racked up some impressive wins.

"My trip to Harvard was a very interesting experience. From the frustration to the happy moments, it will always be a trip that I will never forget. [At times it seemed] we were the only people there who actually wanted to do something for the people of Africa. We were motivated to win the entire tournament, but everyone else didn't consider us serious debaters, just people from Baltimore who wanted the experience. That was exactly how they treated us. There were some judges that voted for us, and when they did it felt like one of the greatest accomplishments ever." Nicole Cheatom, Western High School
Read more about the Harvard experience ...

BUDL alums qualify for the National Debate Tournament

BUDL alums Devin Cooper (Lake Clifton '04/Towson '09) and Dayvon Love (Forest Park '05/Towson '09) have recently qualified for the prestigious National Debate Tournament (NDT), college debate's version of March Madness.

In a typical year of college debate, close to 200 colleges and universities and nearly 1,000 students compete during the course of the season. Only the top 78 two-person teams (156 students) in the nation earn the opportunity to attend.

Towson University has qualified one team in the past 61 years of the NDT. One BUDL student has qualified previously and this is only the third time in history that a team made of two urban debate league students will attend the NDT. This is the 62nd National Debate Tournament, taking place March 28-31 at California State University Fullerton.

Read the whole story ...

Celebrate Success Image Reserve tickets now for Celebrating Success

Celebrating Success

with special guests Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Public School System, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Council president, and Juan Williams of National Public Radio
Thursday, April 24 2008
Center Stage
5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
For tickets, click here.
For sponsorship opportunities, click here.

Join us on Thursday April 24 to celebrate the successes and achievements of our students, schools and staff. Enjoy cocktails and fare, conversation with students and friends, and a live debate. Tickets are $75.

Email Anna to RSVP ...

Sponsor Spotlight - CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Thank you to CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a Bronze sponsor of our upcoming annual event, "Celebrating Success" on April 24.

With the support of area corporations, the Baltimore Urban Debate League is able to make an impact that goes beyond the classrooms, the schools and our communities. Our impact reaches up the corporate ladders of Baltimore and inspires business people and professionals to believe in our city's youth and the power of debate.

Thank you to CareFirst for helping BUDL to move the lever!
Get sponsorship information ...

Make a contribution

A gift to BUDL today can make a difference...
# $50 will buy a team of two students the necessary supplies (evidence tubs, paper for copies and notes, research tools) for the upcoming debate tournaments
# $100 will cover the costs of food and trophies for one student at the rest of the tournaments this year
# $250 will send one student to BUDL's Countdown to College Summer Camp this summer
# $1,000 will help to cover the total costs of an upcoming tournament
# $5,000 will sponsor a school's debate squad for the year

Give now ...


About Us
The Baltimore Urban Debate League is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1999 to enrich the academic experience of students from Baltimore City's public middle and high schools through debate-based learning and activities. BUDL is especially interested in students with untapped potential, who are disengaged from the contemporary classroom. Debate motivates students who have never before felt the thrill of being responsible and rewarded for their own learning. www.budl.org.
email: pam@budl.org
phone: 410-752-2835
web: http://www.budl.org