I have done debate for over 7 years and have seen the tremendous value it has given me. It has deshelled my timidity, boosted my confidence in myself, opened my eyes to real-world problems, and introduced me to a close-knit community of supporters. I wanted to spread this joy of debating to others, which led me to Envision Debate, where I hope everyone can feel these same benefits.
First, Envision hosts free debate workshops to compete with costly $60/hour debate lessons. We work in conjunction with schools to host in-class debate activities or after-school programs and host our own independent bimonthly evening classes. We target schools in rural areas and have worked with students who may have behavioral challenges. Second, Envision hosts debate tournaments (both in-person and online) for students to compete in, which was initiated during the COVID pandemic. It allowed students one of the only early platforms to engage in debate safely. Recently, this has developed into an extensive collaboration with Emory University (to host debate workshops with their college students) and the University of North Georgia (to host a state-wide competition). Third, Envision integrates debate within the school curriculum. We work closely with the UN and the Jamaican Ministry of Education to train teachers and provide concrete resources for them to create debate-led classrooms.
Word of mouth has been important in raising awareness. Students who have been involved in any of our programs share it with other students. Envision's partnerships also serve a huge role in its proliferation. We leverage our partnerships with universities, non-profits, student-led organizations, government agencies, and community leaders to harness greater interest in what we do. We have also hosted public events that are advertised for anyone to join regardless of debate experience (including classes and tournaments). Additionally, school districts are always eager about debating and encourage other neighboring schools to give the activity a try for their students. We also host various fundraising initiatives for different causes (including childhood cancer awareness) to garner traction.
Whether it's our online bimonthly classes or the workshops that we host, you can engage in our activities and see the excitement of debate for yourself. If you aren't interested in classes, we host seasonal 3-day camps for students who want to get a sample of what debate might look like. Our hope is you can try debate out in schools as we push for debate legislation and Title IV-A funding.
