A Letter from the NAUDL Board Chair…
Dear Friends of the NAUDL,
Thanks to you and your support, 2007 has been quite a year.
2008 promises to be even more remarkable. Throughout this newsletter you will see a number of exciting and promising ventures that we have either already undertaken or that we will pursue in the coming year.
During 2007, we launched a fully funded Urban Debate League in Dallas.
We began the hard work of engaging the school districts and developing
local advisory boards to work toward the establishment of similar
UDLs in the Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Areas. And,
we also assisted the already functioning Denver Advisory Board.
In the coming year, we will continue our work to bring UDLs back to
the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Areas, and to create one anew
in Denver. We will accelerate similar efforts in Houston, Las
Vegas, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. And, we will further pursue
the strengthening of the previously existing UDLs in Boston, Detroit
and St. Louis. In short, we will make a substantial and measurable
difference in urban debate opportunities for students nationwide.
As you’ll read about below, the NAUDL will also host the first
ever Chase Urban Debate National Championship in Chicago on April
3 – 6, 2008, and our first ever National Dinner on Saturday,
April 5. The National Dinner will celebrate the urban debate
movement and honor a true urban debate hero, Emory University's Melissa
Wade.
Finally, we will be bringing on board a new Executive Director.
Together with our colleagues throughout the Urban Debate Network,
the new ED will drive our organization and the Network to new and
greater heights.
As the holidays approach, let me lead the chorus in thanking those who are working in local UDLs every day to provide life-trajectory changing opportunities to students across the country. Let me also thank the NAUDL’s supporters whose generosity enables us to assist that critically important work.
Seasons Greetings,
Leonard ("Lenny") Gail
Board Chair
