Each year, BDL debaters have a new, real-world policy debate topic. This year’s topic centers on intellectual property rights. Our debaters immerse themselves in rigorous research, critically analyzing evidence, and honing their arguments to adeptly debate both sides of the issue.

This journey of preparation unfolds in after-school practices and weekend tournaments, where debaters cultivate invaluable skills that transcend the debate arena. They learn to engage thoughtfully with the world, lead civil discourse, and become proactive agents of their own learning, both inside and outside the classroom. In this episode, BDL Executive Director Kimberly Willingham sits down with BDL debater Alana Laforest, and BDL alumni Rebecca Francois and Mosie Burke. Together, they share their personal experiences and insights, illustrating what it truly means to engage with the world beyond the debate stage.

This episode features BDL Executive Director Kim Willingham, alumni Rebecca Francois, Travel Team Coach Mosie Burke, and current debater Alana Laforest.

www.bostondebate.org

Through Resolved, a culturally-responsive program working with cohorts of Black and Latino young men, the BDL took debate-inspired learning in a new direction. Now in its fourth year, the Resolved program has grown to include 40 young men across four schools where Black and Latino young men learn and apply the essential skills of debate, like research and argumentation, while exploring their identities as young men of color. Resolved is reimagining what engaging young men of color in debate can look like. This episode features Resolved Program Director Ranner Faugas; DI Classrooms Senior Coach Carlos Monteiro; and Researcher and Masters in Education Student specializing in Positive Youth Development, Kyle Broadnax. www.bostondebate.org

Like any nonprofit making an impact, the Boston Debate League runs on the generous support of individuals, foundations, corporate and community partners. Reaching up to 800 students a year and working with approximately 200 educators requires the time, talent and treasure of supporters who believe in the vision. In this episode, we feature Larry Wallach, President of the Viney Wallach Foundation; Julie Kurd, Chief Customer Officer, Intuify and adjunct professor at Boston University; and Stephanie Byytebier, Chair of the Rhetoric Department in the College of General Studies at Boston University.

This year, a study will be released about BDL's Debate-Inspired Classrooms program that deciphers the elements of a debate-inspired classroom and how this approach supports meaningful learning and development and explores how debate-inspired activities, used across subject areas, leads to more engaging, inclusive classrooms. This episode features Sarah Mayper, Debate-Inspired Classrooms Senior Instructional Coach, Melanie Shea, Debate-Inspired Classrooms educator and Michael Medina, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Applied Human Development.

To learn more about the Boston Debate League, visit bostondebate.org.

The More Than Debate Podcast will highlight the mission of the Boston Debate League through conversations with the BDL community. Each episode will give listeners a behind the scenes look (or listen) at the programs and people propelling the organization toward new milestones and why…we are more than debate.

The Boston Debate League prepares young people for college, career, and engagement with the world through debate-inspired learning in the classroom and beyond.

To learn more about the Boston Debate League visit bostondebate.org.