Why is RIUDL closing?  We’re closing due to a combination of staff transition, budget shortfall and sharp decline in community engagement since the pandemic.  I hate this!!! What can we do to save the organization?  We hate this too! Unfortunately, we’re past the point of saving RIUDL. The good news is that this doesn’t mean that youth in Rhode Island will be unable to access debate.  Existing teams are more than welcome to join the Boston Debate League, another urban debate league with an equity mission. We also encourage  highly passionate folks to think about starti ..read more

Dear Community, I’m writing this letter to share with you a difficult decision made by our Board of Directors in partnership with myself, Rhode Island Urban Debate League’s Executive Director. RIUDL will be dissolved as of August 31st, 2023.  As of this writing, we have already begun the process of closing down our operations.  If you’re reading this, you’re one of the hundreds of community members who have helped build and support this organization since we began as a program of Brown University all the way back in 1999. As such, I want to assure you that the decision to close was n ..read more

image via Neyon Cycle Instrgram This summer RIUDL was able to offer our youth the opportunity to attend the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) hosted by the New England Youth Organizing Network (NEYON). I asked our executive director, Phyllis, a few questions about how we got connected to YLI and what it means for our youth. How did you learn about YLI?RIUDL was invited to YLI because of our work as part of the OurSchoolsPVD coalition, which is a group of youth organizations who work together to organize youth and our community around education justice issues. We are the first debate league to ..read more

During the school year, our time at RIUDL is relatively predictable. Our youth meet several times a week during the school day or after school to develop their debate skills and we hold tournaments once a month so they can sharpen those skills with their peers. In between tournaments, we're making sure our debaters and expert coaches have the support they need. We recruit coaches and volunteers. Schedule catering and transportation needs for tournaments. Without a doubt, the school year is non-stop for us.  So what happens during the summer months?  RestFirst and foremost, we acknowl ..read more

Tomorrow is April 1st, and if you’re reading this, you know what that means!!!! No, I’m not talking about pulling hilarious pranks on friends or coworkers (though I highly encourage that too). I’m talking about 401Gives- the day where lil’ Rhody comes together to support our robust community of nonprofits and charities. There are matching grants, fun competitions, and good will shared across a lot of amazing organizations. This is our first year participating (thanks to our Operations Manager, Carla) and we are SO SO excited. I’m really hoping you will join us and support the transformative ..read more

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RIUDL debaters and coaches can’t wait to compete in our first in-person debate tournament since February of 2020. The RI Urban Debate League tournament season kicks off on Saturday, November 20 with our CultureFest Throwdown Tournament. The November tournament will be the first of five in our 2020-2012 season. Check out our season calendar here! “This year is all about renewal at RIUDL,”says Executive Director Phyllis Gingerella-Wade. “Many of our top debaters have graduated since COVID began.” The renewal began with our RIUDL Reunion on October 16 at Movement Ground Farm in Tiverton. For the ..read more

This September marks a big leap in RIUDL’s history as we welcome our newest staff member and first ever operations manager, Carla Molina! Our value-centered growth and success the last several years has been made possible with one awesome woman at the helm (shout out to our esteemed executive director, Phyllis!). Now with two incredible women committed to supporting and advocating for young people, the sky’s the limit for RIUDL. Take a moment and learn more about Carla. Carla Molina, RIUDL Operations Manager Carla Molina is an experienced youth and performing arts educator with a penchant for ..read more

By partnering with RIUDL to start a debate team, your school receives: Access to our monthly tournaments, including: Transportation to and from the tournament for your students Meals, snacks and community-building activities throughout the entire day Trophies, certificates, swag and incentives for students and coaches Comprehensive debate learning content which includes: Use of our exclusive student-centered debate format that blends high academic impact with high levels of engagement. Ongoing coach training,modeling and technical support in the areas of debate education and stude ..read more

English teacher Alyx Healy often used informal debates in her 11th and 12th grade classes at E Cubed Academy, a public high school in Providence. But when students drafted her to be their new Urban Debate coach, she discovered a teaching tool with the power to transform average students into superstars: competitive interscholastic debate through Rhode Island Urban Debate League. “Compared to typical students in the suburbs, my students have to climb a lot more steps. Debate helps them take three steps at a time.” Giant steps: Debate skills help high school debaters earn college credit at E Cu ..read more