The Bronx Journal invited our debaters to an evening television interview. Shout outs to PS/MS 15 School for Environmental Studies, The Good Sheperds Program, Coach Weems, and the Great Debaters of PS/MS 15!  Another shout out to KAPPA International HS, Coach Kuzican, and the Great Debaters of KAPPA International! And thank you to our host, Reynaldo Padilla, Lehman College, and the Bronx Journal!  Click here for the show!

"Without great schools, we would not have ... one of the nation's top debate teams at the Bronx High School for Law, Government and Justice.....There is so much to do, and so much I am proud of.  Abraham Lincoln, perhaps one of the greatest presidents, once said that, "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."  Every single day we are working to build a new future for the Bronx.  Each day in our Bronx - the New Bronx - represents a great step forward to a more better future.  Good things are happening here, and there's more to come.  We spent many years, many decades building our borough.  We've taken past successes and built upon them Generation after generation of Bronxites - including many of you here today and our mayor Ed Koch - put in the hard work to make this borough what it is.  Look around you.  Look at how the work has paid off.  The seeds we planted so many decades ago are bearing fruit.  And it doesn't stop there. We have to keep going.  We must persevere.  We must push forward. During the next four years we will - together as "one Bronx" - as a New Bronx, bring about meaningful change to our borough.  God bless you, God bless the Bronx and God bless America!"

Thank you to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.!  Thank you to all our Bronx supporters!  And thank you to every Borough in New York for supporting New York City's leading academic program! Every student needs to be a Great Debater! Every student needs to be a Great Leader!  And that is how we all build a New New York City together.

JANUARY...IN THE NEWS!

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST DEBATE TEAM WINS TRANSPORTATION REFORM DEBATE!

In November the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services recognized the New York City Urban Debate League as one of the top after school programs in the country! South Bronx debater, Starr Arroyo, delivered an amazing speech at the White House and received a standing ovation from a crowd of hundreds including the First Lady! Thank you New York City for making our debaters so Great! The NYC Debate League would not have received this award without all the support of our students, teachers, parents, alumni, and volunteers. See below for more articles about our White House Award! 

"Having the chance to represent my peers in accepting this award from the First Lady of the United States in the White House was an experience that I'll never forget," said Starr Arroyo. "It showed me that the power of programs like NYCUDL to change kids' lives is recognized and valued." Starr Arroyo delivered a speech at the White House on how debate has helped her overcome so many obstacles and inspired her to follow in the footsteps of fellow South Bronx high school debater, Sonya Sotomayor who became the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice.  According to Starr,

"Which is why I love the New York City Urban Debate League. You won't find any activity that makes you think and question so many ideas, read and research so many books, write and speak about the biggest problems in our world, and meet and compete against students across the nation. As President Obama stated in his speech to American students in 2009 "you may not know you could be a President or Supreme Court justice until you joined your school's debate team!"

For the full transcript of Starr's speech, click here.  For the full video of the White House Ceremony including Starr's speech, click here.

Congratulations Starr!  Such a Starr!!  And Thank You everyone for making all our students Debate Stars everyday!

"Meanwhile, DiColandrea closely monitored the fast paced back-and-forth, occasionally pausing the proceedings to critique and praise content, form and participation. For nearly 45 minutes, the class was deeply engaged in an ancient ritual that would have made Socrates proud...."

 - Daniel Krieger, "Students Use Debate to Master Issues."