Urban debaters from Dallas area high schools presented a public debate at the National Urban League Youth Summit in New Orleans last month.  The public debate offered hundreds of urban youth leaders the opportunity to learn more about urban debate leagues and the format of policy debate. Seniors Lidia Enriquez and Ariel Guerrero (North Dallas High School), and juniors Barrett Blaker and Javier Gonzalez (Woodrow Wilson High School) debated the 2012 resolution: The U.S. federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States. 

This is the second year Allstate Insurance and the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues have collaborated to present a public debate as part of the National Urban League's Youth Leadership Summit.  Public debate is a form of policy debate designed to engage the audience.  In this debate, the audience of young people enthusiastically posed challenging questions to the teams.

"By showcasing urban debate at the NUL's Youth Leadership Summit, the NAUDL and Allstate helped inspire these young leaders with the power of debate, and build their passion to understand both sides of any issue," said Craig Keller, Director of Social Responsibility at Allstate. "Based on the outstanding engagement from the audience, I know our urban debaters delivered on that and more."

Travel expenses for the debate teams and their coach were underwritten by Allstate Insurance. The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues facilitated the selection of teams from the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance and the debaters were coached and prepared by Nicole Serrano, Executive Director for the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance and Jo Rohde, Debate Coach for North Dallas High School. 

View the students photo album from their trip to New Orleans on Facebook.