Bringing together debate tradition and positive hip-hop energy
January 12, 2007
Tacoma, Wash. - The Seattle Debate Foundation, Comcast Foundation, The HERO Initiative, Hip Hop Congress and University of Puget Sound are partnering to launch the Tacoma Urban Debate League. A special workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wheelock Student Center (WSC) and Trimble Hall
The Seattle Debate Foundation (SDF), with the generous support of a grant from the Comcast Foundation, is launching the Tacoma Urban Debate League by starting new urban debate programs at several public high schools in the Tacoma area. This project will kick off with an explosive workshop that is made of the kind of innovative and quality programming that the SDF is known for. One of two newly formed partnerships between the SDF and the HERO initiative of the College Success Foundation (formerly the Washington Education Foundation), the project is collaboration between urban debate leagues around the country and Hip Hop Congress.
The day will feature several debate workshops where students will learn through fun and stimulating hands-on debate activities that connect to their interests and foster critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing proficiency, public speaking, media literacy, conflict resolution, and civic participation.
The workshops will be facilitated by college coaches and debaters from University of Puget Sound, hip-hop artists, and educators from across the West Coast. Students will learn how to create dynamic speeches by incorporating the alternate forms of cultural expression and political thought often found in hip-hop including spoken word, and piety. Students will work in collaboration with debate coaches and hip-hop artists to create and record these speeches for future use in public debates and weekend tournaments. Helping bring insight into this aspect of the program are Julie Chang Schulman, Northwest regional coordinator of Hip Hop Congress, education committee member of H2Ed, and a member of Zulu Nation from Seattle; Mic Crenshaw, poet, lyricist, educator, and activist from Portland, Ore.; Laura “piece” Kelley, Seattle Grand Slam Champion 2004-05, Seattle’s only HBO Def Jam Poet, and executive director of the Think Big Foundation; Amos Miller, producer 2o6 Vintage; and Shamako Noble, president of Hip Hop Congress and co-director of H2Ed.
When asked about her excitement regarding the use of hip-hop in debate, high school debater, Khatsini Simani said, “I’ve found a way to communicate and express myself in a way that I love and in a style that really gets the point across.”
Looking forward to the launch of the Tacoma Urban Debate League and the new partnerships with Comcast, University of Puget Sound, Hip Hop Congress, and the HERO initiative, SDF Executive Director, Jen Johnson said, “The project combines the strength of several incredible organizations to provide innovative and culturally relevant education that is centered around the growth, empowerment, and success of our youth.” More than 50 students are expected to attend the workshop. Anyone interested in participating should contact If Executive Director Jen Johnson at jen.johnson@seattledebate.org or dbuescher@ups.edu.
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