About the Portland Urban Debate League
Equitable Outcomes
Unlike conventional policy debate programs, Portland Urban Debate League centers equity in everything we do.
The PUDL model is adapted from the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL), which has been adopted by 500+ schools in over 19 cities since 2002. PUDL refined their successful model through both active engagement in NAUDL and ongoing conversations with local educators, school districts, and community partners. When designing our program, PUDL met with over 30 local speech educators and three culturally-specific organizations. These ongoing conversations have impacted everything from curriculum design, debate topics, and the food we offer to participants. For example, based on these conversations, we are intentional about helping our students understand dominant culture conventions regarding public speaking, while at the same time validating and honoring culturally-specific forms of expression. Centering the perspectives and experiences of marginalized students remains an ongoing priority for us.
According to the 2017 report, “Toward a Thriving Future: Closing the Opportunity Gap for Oregon’s Kids” (Oregon Community Foundation), gaps in educational opportunity start early and persist, with BIPOC children and children from low-income households being less likely to receive quality early childhood experiences, high-quality K–12 education, and enrichment opportunities. These opportunity gaps have a cumulative impact on college and career readiness, as well as far-reaching implications for personal achievement and well-being. According to “Toward a Thriving Future,” in 64% of Oregon counties, children raised in low-income families will likely remain low-income as adults. The report makes multiple recommendations to improve K–12 academic success, including ensuring all children have access to extracurricular and high-quality enrichment activities.
Organizational development for PUDL began with board recruitment and composition to ensure that BIPOC and female debaters were represented to share their experiences and perspectives on program design and inclusionary practices. Our inclusive Board has informed elements built into the program, such as:
Eliminating all costs for participation, including free breakfast and lunch for all tournament participants so that food insecurity does not impact student performance;
Removing the professional dress code typically required at most Oregon speech and debate competitions, and instead offering a dress clothes closet so that PUDL students of limited means can participate in non-PUDL Oregon tournaments;
Shifting our competition format to a flexible Friday/Saturday schedule to ensure working students can participate while still supporting their families.
By design, PUDL partners with schools with higher levels of BIPOC and other underserved student populations. We actively conduct outreach to immigrants and English Language Learners to encourage their participation in the program, and we select debate topics of relevance and urgency to students of diverse backgrounds and experiences.