Alumni Spotlight: Richeline Cadet March 19, 2024 | By Richeline Cadet Richeline is pictured crouching on the left bottom front. From BDL Debater to Community Activist & Political Organizer My name is Richeline “Richie” Cadet; I am a Boston Public School graduate of TechBoston Academy and a proud state school graduate of Salem State University. Growing up, I’d always been a very passionate and vocal person, and was lucky enough to have family, peers, and resources that encouraged me to explore that. My experience navigating life in the U.S. as a young black woman from Haiti furth ..read more

Debate en Español en Nueva York February 7, 2024 | By David Rivera Liderando a Través del Español Click Here to Read in English Los debatientes del programa de Debate en Español (DeE) de la Liga de Debate de Boston (BDL, por sus siglas en inglés) constantemente están mejorando sus habilidades de oratoria, persuasión y análisis crítico para participar en diferentes competencias. Sin embargo, recientemente un grupo de cinco estudiantes tomaron los roles de jueces y entrenadores en el torneo de debate de la Liga Urbana de Debate de la Ciudad de Nueva York (NYCUDL, por sus siglas ..read more

Debate en Español en Suffolk February 02, 2024 | By David Rivera Photo Credit: Michael J. Clarke El Primer Torneo de Debate Político Universitario en Español Click Here to Read in English A veces los latinos nos sentimos fuera de lugar. Claro, es entendible al estar en tierra ajena. Pero esto no significa que siempre tengamos que sentirnos de esta manera.  Como inmigrante latino, logré encontrar mi comunidad por medio del debate, plataforma brindada por Boston Debate League. Conocí a otros estudiantes con grandes habilidades, pensamiento crítico y personalidades agradables ..read more

Volunteer Victories January 18, 2024 | By Kelly Cody Celebrating volunteers after the first half of the tournament season! As we transition the the second half of the 2023-2024 debate season, the BDL family would love to reflect on the volunteers and community partners that make the debate season possible. A Tribute to Tournaments Throughout this academic year, a remarkable 373 individuals from the Boston community have graciously volunteered their time! These volunteers, serving as judges, have shared valuable insights, guidance, and feedback with debaters, focusing on the seas ..read more

Resolved January 16, 2024 | By Ranner Faugas Building Spaces for Black and Latino Young Men “Why are we here?“ That’s the question I was immediately confronted with as I walked into the first Resolved session at the Community Academy of Science and Health. I suspect that the students’ question was literal, as they had recently been chosen to be part of this group and were supplied with nothing but a brief explanation by their school’s guidance counselor. This was a moment of pause for me because I didn’t just take this question literally—it made me reflect on the fundamental nature of ..read more

A Better Way Forward January 16, 2023 | By Kim Willingham Listening, Humility, and Empathy — A Recipe for Healthy Discourse As we look ahead to the work we’ll undertake at the Boston Debate League (BDL) in 2024, we do so considering the context within which we do this work. About this time three years ago, we watched as the nation’s Capital was stormed in response to the results of the presidential election. In the days and weeks that followed, tensions mounted across the country, and today, we continue to navigate a widening chasm in our political landscape and an erosion of civil di ..read more

Suffolk Final Presentations January 4, 2024 | By Marisa Suescun Suffolk Dual Enrollment Students Present Final Projects In the 12th floor Trustees Conference Room on the campus of Suffolk University, a young woman stood at the front of a room, took a breath, and began to sing. She sang a song of hunger, of injustice, and of fierce, joyful resistance – Van Dyke Parks’ “City on the Hill.” “The ghetto’s hungry people cry Food is wasted on the hill Hands stretched upwards to the sky That hill seems high and higher still…” This was the potent, lyrical way that Sybille Delice, a 12th grade ..read more

Suffolk Final Presentations December 21, 2023 | By Julianna Maximo Suffolk Dual Enrollment Students Present Final Projects In the 12th floor Trustees Conference Room on the campus of Suffolk University, a young woman stood at the front of a room, took a breath, and began to sing. She sang a song of hunger, of injustice, and of fierce, joyful resistance – Van Dyke Parks’ “City on the Hill.” “The ghetto’s hungry people cry Food is wasted on the hill Hands stretched upwards to the sky That hill seems high and higher still…” This was the potent, lyrical way that Sybille Delice, a 12th gr ..read more

BDL Travel Team Heads to DC! December 1, 2023 | By Julianna Maximo BDL’s Travel Team Competed in the Dragon Invitational Tournament Over Veterans’ Day Weekend, the BDL Travel Team flew to Washington DC to compete at the Urban Debate Dragon Invitational, hosted by the Washington Urban Debate League and facilitated by the UDL’s executive director, David Trigaux. Four teams competed at the tournament: BLA’s Alana Laforest & Rune Mozak and Ella Verinder & Lucas Golding; Somerville’s Atticus Shimkin & Sylvester Miratrix; and New Mission’s Nathan Li & Salma Abdikadir.  ..read more

Where We Are November 13, 2023 | By Julianna Maximo Andrew Brokos and Kim Willingham in Conversation Since its inception in 2006, the Boston Debate League (BDL) has undergone significant transformation and growth, driven by the dedication and commitment of individuals like BDL founder, Andrew Brokos. Andrew’s involvement with the BDL extends beyond its founding. His support includes pledging to donate a portion of his poker winnings to the organization, a testament to his unwavering commitment to its mission. In addition to his financial contributions, Andrew has also volunteered wit ..read more