Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL)

10/24/2026

Last weekend, the Bay Area Urban Debate League welcomed 75 students to our Ne’Jahra Soriano Season Opener tournament.

This tournament holds a special place in our hearts. Beyond leading our Middle School Programming today, Ne’Jahra earned this namesake tournament after going completely undefeated at BAUDL tournaments during her senior year. That standard of excellence continues to set the bar for our league. What makes it even more meaningful is seeing her give back to the BAUDL community today, inspiring the next generation of debaters to BAUDL Fight, BAUDL Win!

A huge thank you to Fremont High School for graciously hosting our Season Opener once again and opening their doors to our students. And to our incredible volunteers: thank you for lending your ears and your time. Without you, we could not have delivered eight full hours of competitive debate rounds to all 75 students.

The season is just getting started. Mark your calendars for our Fall Championships on Saturday, December 5th, at Emery High School. This promises to be an electric tournament, and we will need all hands on deck. Stakes are especially high for our Open Policy division, as debaters will be competing for a qualifying bid to the Urban Debate National Championship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. BAUDL will be sending qualifying students completely cost-free!

10/21/2026

📣 We’re hiring! The Bay Area Urban Debate League is looking for our next Program Director to help lead and grow youth debate across the Bay Area.

Applications are open now—apply or share today.

10/21/2026

10/14/2026

We have an important community update to share. Friday, October 23rd, will mark Sekayi’s final day with BAUDL. After an incredible 10 years with our league—starting as a debater, becoming a regional coordinator, and serving as our Program Director for the past three years—she is taking an exciting next step in her career to do development work!

Sekayi has poured so much heart, energy, and leadership into making our tournaments and programs thrive, and we want to give her the celebration she deserves. The rest of our BAUDL staff will remain in place to support you throughout the season.

Please join us this Saturday, October 17th, for the NeJahra Season Opener, which will be Sekayi’s final tournament with BAUDL. Come ready to debate, celebrate, and shower her with gratitude and well wishes.

10/14/2026

📣 We’re hiring! The Bay Area Urban Debayte League is looking for our next Program Director to help lead and grow youth debate across the Bay Area.

Applications are open now—apply or share today.

Link to job posting is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SH7ku_7pZnKzvpT4rlZy4jk0215aw2Yb/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115365149576520256504&rtpof=true&sd=true

10/14/2026

Save the dates. 🏆 A new season with the Bay Area Urban Debate League is right around the corner. Mark your calendars with our upcoming workshop & tournament schedule below—we can't wait to see you all.

Help us grow future leaders! Support Bay Area youth with high-quality debate education and essential leadership development. Every dollar makes a difference.
Give Today: https://www.baudl.org/donate.html

Corporate Match? Find out if your company will match your gift: https://doublethedonation.com/baudl

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

Yesterday marked BAUDL’s very first Culture Night at Chase Center for the Warriors game—and what an unforgettable evening it was! 🏀✨

Not only did the Warriors bring home a win, but all 58 BAUDL debaters got a once-in-a-lifetime experience: stepping onto the court after the buzzer to shoot a free throw on the NBA floor.

With our tournament kickoff less than a week away, moments like this remind our students that they belong to a vibrant, powerful community that champions them every step of the way.

A huge thank you to every debater, coach, alum, and family member who came out to make this night so special.

A heartfelt thank you to our BAUDL Board Member who generously sponsored this event for our community. Special thanks to Ms. Velma for her invaluable help coordinating our group’s attendance, and to Pastor Ed for his steadfast advocacy for BAUDL.

See you all next Saturday, October 17th, at Fremont High School for the Nejahra S. Season Opener!

See how BAUDL is changing lives. Subscribe here. baudl.org/back-to-school

10/07/2026

Yesterday marked BAUDL’s very first Culture Night at Chase Center for the Warriors game—and what an unforgettable evening it was! 🏀✨

Not only did the Warriors bring home a win, but all 58 BAUDL debaters got a once-in-a-lifetime experience: stepping onto the court after the buzzer to shoot a free throw on the NBA floor.

With our tournament kickoff less than a week away, moments like this remind our students that they belong to a vibrant, powerful community that champions them every step of the way.

A huge thank you to every debater, coach, alum, and family member who came out to make this night so special.

A heartfelt thank you to our BAUDL Board Member who generously sponsored this event for our community. Special thanks to Ms. Velma for her invaluable help coordinating our group’s attendance, and to Pastor Ed for his steadfast advocacy for BAUDL.

See you all next Saturday, October 17th, at Fremont High School for the Nejahra S. Season Opener!

See how BAUDL is changing lives. Subscribe here. baudl.org/back-to-school

10/07/2026

On Sunday, Bay Area Urban Debate League Coach Richie Bennett of Brenkwitz High School was honored on the field by the 49ers Foundation for his exceptional leadership and dedication.

Thank you, Coach Bennett, for everything you do to advance literacy, critical thinking, and confidence for Bay Area youth, empowering them to rise to every challenge.

See how BAUDL is changing lives. Subscribe here. baudl.org/back-to-school