LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
What a week! I have just celebrated two momentous occasions, the historic election of Barack Obama on a national scale and the celebration of the Bat Mitzvah of my eldest daughter on a personal scale.
I am reminded, through both events, of the importance of family, community and connection. I am reminded of the importance of being dedicated to a cause or goal that reflects both our own ambitions and also connects us to a world and a vision larger than ourselves. I am reminded of the importance of dreaming big and of reaching and celebrating milestones.
This year the Baltimore Urban Debate League celebrates our 10th year of bringing the power of debate to young people in Baltimore City. As I sat back and watched record-breaking numbers of debaters arriving for the season's first tournaments this fall - after a summer of great transition - I became emotional. The League has reached a momentous place. It is now an expectation - not an exception - that young people in Baltimore City will have or will demand access to debate. It is a given that the power of a young person's voice is directly linked to the size, scope and plausibility of their dreams.
Without the support of families and schools and communities, whether they be congregational communities or classroom communities or family extensions like the Baltimore Urban Debate League, young people thrive when they are connected to something that nurtures and inspires who they will become.
For some of our young debaters, BUDL is a significant part of that connection, an extension of the family, the community, the network of support that will hold onto to them and push them to dream, develop their goals, and defy the naysayers as they make those visions come true.
Thank you for your part in embracing the dream, and in the celebration of the milestone!
Pam Spiliadis
BUDL's breaking news ... The year has started strong for the Baltimore Urban Debate League! There are 30 high schools and 22 middle schools in the League this season, and tournament participation is way up into "record-breaking" status.
BUDL welcomes new middle schools to the program: Baltimore Freedom Academy, Margaret Brent Elem/Middle, City Springs Elem/Middle, Civitas Middle, Dickey Hill Elem/Middle, Grove Park Elem/Middle, Hampstead Hill Academy, Holabird Elem/Middle, Inner Harbor East Academy, KIPP, Westport Academy Elem/Middle, William C. March BUDL welcomes new high schools to the program: Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts High, Ben Franklin High, Civitas High Thanks to your help, BUDL provided full scholarships to all Baltimore City public school students (about 175 campers) attending all three of its summer camps: Countdown to College Camp at Johns Hopkins University, and the B'MORE Middle and High School Debate Institutes, at University of Baltimore and Digital Harbor High, respectively. BUDL supporter Harry Bosk of Citi, a financial services company, will be running the Philadelphia Marathon, Nov. 23 to raise money for the Baltimore Urban Debate League. Support his run to the finish line! BUDL welcomes a new partner in investment: Ober Kaler. BUDL said a sad goodbye to College Access/Americorps representative Holland Gilmore - but welcomed two new Americorps representatives, Josh Hammack and Casandra Stephenson.
Record numbers at first middle school tournament After a summer full of transition and change in the Baltimore City School System, the Baltimore Urban Debate League has emerged stronger than ever before for the 2008/2009 school year.
With our "back to basics" focus on core programming and competitive debate activities, we have been able to recruit 52 schools to the League this season and have attracted tons of new and returning students to squad practices and weekend debate tournaments.
In fact, there were nearly 270 students at the first Middle School Tournament, held Oct. 25th at Lemmel Middle School - the most middle schoolers to ever participate in one of our tournaments, and, double the number of students at last year's first middle school tournament! We are facing the wonderful problem of busting at the seams of the schools hosting our tournaments.
Read more about the tournament ...
Memorable night in honor of MLK, Jr. On Thursday, October 16, 175 people joined the Baltimore Urban Debate League for a special dinnertime conversation about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., co-hosted and sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council. The room - at the American Visionary Arts Museum - was packed with BUDL supporters and friends, students and teachers, and other Baltimore City community members.
Forty League students and alums acted as "table leaders," and facilitated interesting conversations during dinner about Dr. King's values, race in our community and politics. Between mouthfuls of spaghetti and garlic bread, guests engaged in lively conversation.
Read the full story ...
Coach Spotlight: Ben Gitelson, Calverton Middle School Debate coaches are the backbone of the Baltimore Urban Debate League. They commit their time and energy to the success of their student debaters and squads. Without these coaches, BUDL would not reach as many students with the clear academic and personal benefits that accompany debate, nor would learning be as fun for our young students!
On Oct. 25, Ben Gitelson of Calverton Middle School was awarded the prestigious honor of being named a Cardin Cup recipient at the first Middle School debate tournament of the 2008/2009 season.
The award commemorates the life and legacy of Michael Cardin, son of Senator Benjamin Cardin. Michael embodied a passion for learning, natural leadership and a proud spirit of community. Mr. Gitelson was nominated by his co-coaches at Calverton, Joe Amundsen and Zach Taylor, for his compassion for youth and love of learning - a combination of characteristics also embodied in Michael Cardin's spirit.
In their nomination, Calverton's coaches noted Mr. Gitelson's tireless dedication to preparing his students for debate tournaments. It was also noted that Mr. Gitelson generously offered to cut his pay for his work on the debate team in order to free up resources to hire an additional coach to support the growing squad at Calverton. Mr. Gitelson and the coaches at Calverton Middle School are just one of many examples in the Baltimore Urban Debate League of a group of caring adults coming together to make a difference for the students of Baltimore City.
BUDL welcomes third class of Apprentices and two new Americorps College Access specialists to the staff The Baltimore Urban Debate League is proud to announce its new team of Apprentices (pictured above). These 10 senior and junior debaters - the third class of BUDL Apprentices - will become an extension of the BUDL staff this year - each working as assistant coaches for a middle school squad, taking on responsibility to prepare and plan public debates around the community, and becoming leaders and ambassadors for the League in front of the community-at-large. We welcome them! (Click here to meet each one individually.)
BUDL also welcomes the addition of two Americorps representatives: Casandra Stephenson and Josh Hammack.
Casandra is a graduate of Binghamton University, where she studied Africana Studies and Philosophy. "I am excited to assist BUDL students in realizing their college dreams. I also hope to build their character along with my own," she said. Casandra brings skills in mentoring, essay writing, and research to BUDL's College Access program. "Essay writing is an important aspect of college - so my goal is to hone [the students'] debate skills and combine them with essay writing, to boost confidence and writing abilities," she said. Josh, from Huntington, West Virginia, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May of 2008. He too will work as a College Access counselor. "I believe that education is one of the most important factors in a person's ability to become successful, both personally and professionally," he said. "I believe that my work at BUDL will provide the means for more people to continue their education and achieve greater success. The opportunity to help others reach their full potential is what attracted me to BUDL in the first place." Josh has two other important life goals: to graduate from law school, and scale Mt. Everest.
Read the full story ...
Save the date - March 26, 2009 This year marks the Baltimore Urban Debate League's 10th Anniversary. Save the date:
Celebrating Success: 10 Years!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum
5:30pm: VIP Reception
6:00pm: Main Event Keynote: Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC
For sponsorship opportunities or advance tickets, please call Anna at 410-752-2835 or email her: aminkowski@budl.org
Get more details ...
| Baltimore's great debaters need you! HELP ENSURE THAT EVERY KID IN BALTIMORE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THEIR VOICE A gift to BUDL today can make a difference...
$50 will buy a team of two students a year's-worth of necessary debate supplies (evidence tubs, paper for copies and notes, research tools) $100 will cover the costs of transporation to a tournament for 5 students $250 will cover the costs of food and trophies at a year's-worth of tournaments for one student $1,000 will send one student to BUDL's Countdown to College Summer Camp this July $5,000 will help to cover the total costs of an upcoming tournament $10,000 will sponsor one school's debate squad for one full year Give now ... |
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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. phone: 410-752-2835
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