Minnesota Urban Debate League

Minnesota Urban Debate League VOICE. POWER. CHANGE. The Minnesota Urban Debate League empowers 1,850+ young people in the Twin Cities Metro through debate!

Apply to be MNUDL's new AmeriCorps Groundwork Fellow by July 16!Are you passionate about empowering Twin Cities youth? J...
06/16/2026

Apply to be MNUDL's new AmeriCorps Groundwork Fellow by July 16!

Are you passionate about empowering Twin Cities youth? Join the Minnesota Urban Debate League as an AmeriCorps Groundwork Fellow and spend a year making a real difference in the lives of young people across our community.

This role is a chance to serve alongside others who share your commitment to youth while building skills and connections that will shape your career.

What makes this opportunity special:
• A pathway to your future: Earn an AmeriCorps Education Award upon completing your service that can go toward qualifying student loans or future education, plus access to scholarships, application fee waivers, and other perks for AmeriCorps alums at schools like Augsburg University, Macalester College, University of St. Thomas, Metropolitan State University, and the U of M Humphrey School of Public Affairs
• Real professional growth: Develop sought-after leadership skills through hands-on training in public speaking, facilitation, resource mapping, creating inclusive spaces, and professional goal setting.
• A supportive community: From an AmeriCoach life coach to a network of fellow members serving across Minnesota, you won't be doing this alone.
• Support along the way: A living stipend and a range of member benefits help make a year of service possible.

Learn more about benefits and qualifications, apply, and find contact information using the link in our comments.

Please join us in wishing Jenna Randerson, our Program Manager, well as she leaves for a fantastic new professional oppo...
06/15/2026

Please join us in wishing Jenna Randerson, our Program Manager, well as she leaves for a fantastic new professional opportunity.

Jenna has been with the MNUDL since 2019, and has been the architect of our Debate En Español program, major player in the Financial Literacy Leadership Debates, lead our Salesforce work, and been a key leader on our program team.

Her impact has not only been local, but national, since her curriculum and materials have been used widely across the NAUDL network.

Jenna's last day is today. Thank you, Jenna!

We will be seeking a new team member, so please watch the MNUDL's Work With Us page (in the comments) for more information.

Please wish the best of luck to the following Central teams who will be competing at National Speech & Debate Associatio...
06/13/2026

Please wish the best of luck to the following Central teams who will be competing at National Speech & Debate Association's National Championship in Richmond, Virginia this weekend!

Kiernan & Ben
Nathan & Elliot
Charlotte & Abe

This is a huge national stage for their advocacy and opportunity to meet students from across the nation.

Exciting news: the Minnesota Urban Debate League has a new home!The MNUDL has officially joined the Sabo Center for Demo...
06/11/2026

Exciting news: the Minnesota Urban Debate League has a new home!

The MNUDL has officially joined the Sabo Center for Democracy & Citizenship at Augsburg University, a home where our mission to empower students through debate fits right alongside a community of changemakers.

We are equally excited to celebrate Amy Cram Helwich, our Executive Director, stepping into a new role as Associate Director of the Sabo Center, in addition to continuing to lead the MNUDL.

The Sabo Center connects campus and community to build meaningful learning that strengthens neighborhoods, expands civic participation, and lifts up the next generation of leaders. The MNUDL now sits alongside a vital group of programs including Health Commons, Campus Kitchen, Bonner Community Leaders, the Community Garden, and more.

After a year like no other, we know what's possible when communities come together as a force for good.

The MNUDL amplifies students’ VOICE and POWER. The Sabo Center builds CONNECTION and COLLABORATION. Together, we're a force for CHANGE.

5 weeks of MNUDL's Summer Speech & Debate Camp has begun this week on Augsburg University's campus! This is our biggest ...
06/09/2026

5 weeks of MNUDL's Summer Speech & Debate Camp has begun this week on Augsburg University's campus! This is our biggest camp session yet, with over 275 registrations. Students (and families!) are hungry for fun summer learning, and we are ready to deliver! From all forms of debate – to Mock Trial, Model UN, and Speech – we will be helping students to become the champions of their own story.

Looking for summer enrichment from June 22-July 10? It's not too late to sign up for speech and debate camp, but spots are going fast! Register here: https://mnudl.augsburg.edu/summer-speech-and-debate-camp/

We’ve seen a lot of debate movies at the MNUDL. Most fall somewhere on a spectrum from charming to cringe-inducing, but ...
06/04/2026

We’ve seen a lot of debate movies at the MNUDL. Most fall somewhere on a spectrum from charming to cringe-inducing, but they usually have little to do with what actually happens in a competitive debate round.

Immutable, the new feature documentary from PBS, is different. The film follows students from the Washington Urban Debate League - WUDL through a full season, from camp to the championships, and it is the most accurate portrait of urban debate in the current era that we’ve seen. It doesn’t flatten the activity into a feel-good arc, but lets debate be what it is. We want to invite you to watch it with us.

Screening details:

• Free Screening: IMMUTABLE Documentary Watch Party with MNUDL
• Date & Time: Monday, June 22, 2026 · 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CDT
• Location: Augsburg University, Minneapolis, MN
• Price: Free
• Get tickets:

Following the 90-minute screening, stay for a conversation with Norman Ornstein, renowned political scientist and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and David Trigaux, Executive Director of the Washington Urban Debate League.

Sign up to let us know you’re coming to the screening: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-screening-immutable-documentary-watch-party-with-mnudl-tickets-1986147404352

Make summer count! Augsburg University's Middle School Speech & Debate Camps are still enrolling.Our camp sessions are r...
06/02/2026

Make summer count! Augsburg University's Middle School Speech & Debate Camps are still enrolling.

Our camp sessions are rooted in the Minnesota Urban Debate League's values: speech and debate is for everyone. Whether your student is a true beginner or has already been competing for years, they are welcome to join us!

Weekly day camps run June through July on Augsburg University's campus in Minneapolis.

Your student will spend their days building real skills: how to research, how to argue, and how to speak confidently in front of a room. Every session closes with a capstone experience like a debate round, mock trial or speech showcase.

Aftercare available for $75/week.

Sessions still open:
• June 15–20: Policy, Debate En Español, Model UN (NEW); no camp on Juneteenth.
• June 22–26: Mock Trial
• June 29–July 2: Sampler Camp
• July 6–10: Congress, Speech & East African Policy Debate (NEW)

Register at the link in the comments before spots fill.

Minnesota will once again be represented by Saint Paul at Debate En Español nationals!Debate En Español league debaters ...
05/27/2026

Minnesota will once again be represented by Saint Paul at Debate En Español nationals!

Debate En Español league debaters from Como Park, South High School, and Highland Park competed for their chance at next year's Urban Debate National Championship, hosted by Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Congratulations to Montserrat and Fernando, who earned their place at Wake Forest University in Spring 2027!

Jorge and Amelia from Como Park and Karolain and Joffre from South High also brought their best efforts to the qualifying rounds, demonstrating skills they've honed over the past season. Como came in 2nd place and South came in 3rd place.

¡Felicidades y buena suerte!

Minneapolis Public Schools Saint Paul Public Schools SPPS

Augsburg University hosted the Championship of our Financial Literacy Leadership Debates season last week! This year, st...
05/27/2026

Augsburg University hosted the Championship of our Financial Literacy Leadership Debates season last week!

This year, students discussed changing the regulations for young people under age 21 to apply for credit cards without a co-signer. In the process, they built confidence, critical thinking, and public speaking skills while learning about the credit system in depth.

Please congratulate our top speakers and partnerships:

Speaker Awards

1: Charlie (Washburn)
2: Haven (Washburn)
3: Hadley (St Paul Central)
4: Aaliyah (Wash Tech)
5: Najma (Washburn)
6: Hannad (Highland Park)
7: Aaron (Highland Park)
8: Mena (St Paul Central)
9: Lizzy (North St Paul)
10: Charlotte (St Paul Central)
11: Saliha (Wash Tech)
12: Violet (Washburn)
13: Avi (Washburn)
14: Malteser (Humboldt)
15: Olivia (Humboldt)

Partnership Awards

1: Charlie & Haven: (Washburn)
2: Aaliyah: (Wash Tech)
3: Sir Nakhai & Seth (Humboldt)
4: Mena & Hadley (St Paul Central)
5: Hannad & Aaron (Highland Park)
6: Lizzy (North St Paul)
7: Lachlan & Najma (Washburn)
8: Charlotte (St Paul Central)
9: Saliha (Wash Tech)
10: Avi & Violet (Washburn)

Thank you to the coaches who made this season possible. Find more photos from the championship at the link in the comments.

Photo Credit: Marina Que

Minneapolis Public Schools Saint Paul Public Schools SPPS

Our beloved Voice Power Change design has been reborn as a Crystal Tie Dye Tee. Each shirt is individually hand dyed, me...
05/25/2026

Our beloved Voice Power Change design has been reborn as a Crystal Tie Dye Tee. Each shirt is individually hand dyed, meaning yours is truly one of a kind. No two are alike!

SHIRT DETAILS:
• Heavyweight 100% cotton
• Standard fit
• Rib knit collar & back neck tape
• Tear-away label for comfort
• Each tee is uniquely hand dyed. Slight color variation is part of the magic!

(Wash separately in cold water to keep those colors vibrant.)

Because the tie-dye process is done by hand, the pattern on your shirt may vary slightly from the one pictured. That's what makes it YOURS.

BONUS DEAL: Grab a baseball cap to match and save 10% with code MEMORIALDAY at checkout! Happy Memorial Day Weekend! 🇺🇸

bonfire.com/store/mnudl

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Nuestro querido diseño Voice Power Change ha renacido como una Camiseta Crystal Tie Dye. Cada camiseta está teñida a mano individualmente, lo que significa que la tuya es verdaderamente única en el mundo. ¡No hay dos iguales!

DETALLES DE LA CAMISETA:

• Algodón 100% de peso grueso
• Corte estándar
• Cuello de punto acanalado y cinta trasera en el cuello
• Etiqueta removible para mayor comodidad
• Cada camiseta está teñida a mano de forma única. ¡La ligera variación de color es parte de la magia!

(Lavar por separado en agua fría para mantener los colores vibrantes.)

Dado que el proceso de teñido se realiza a mano, el patrón en tu camiseta puede variar ligeramente respecto a la imagen. Eso es lo que la hace TUYA.

OFERTA ESPECIAL: ¡Combínala con una gorra de béisbol y ahorra un 10% con el código MEMORIALDAY al pagar! ¡Feliz Fin de Semana del Día de los Caídos! 🇺🇸

bonfire.com/store/mnudl

Address

2211 Riverside Avenue, CB 26
Minneapolis, MN
55454

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16123301723

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