2026 Mayors Challenge raises more than $150K for urban debate
Nina Moini (MPR) served as emcee for MNUDL’s night of discourse on health insurance.
The Minnesota Urban Debate League’s 14th annual Mayors Challenge gathered students, coaches, families, and supporters for The Great Healthcare Debate. By the end of the night, the pride and energy in the room translated into $150,203 raised for our students.
Congratulations to the Affirmative Team, our 2026 Mayors Challenge Champions
St. Paul emerged victorious after the Great Healthcare Debate! Ben (Central High School) and Montserrat (Highland Park) competed on the affirmative (pro) side against Daniella (Tartan High School) and Shyamana (Washburn High School), who debated the negative (con) side.
The showcase debate, performed with Nina Moini (MPR) as our emcee, asked a question the whole country is examining before midterms: should the U.S. implement a national health insurance system similar to Medicare for All?
The Affirmative team argued that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. The negative team challenged the idea that the U.S. government would fix inequities in healthcare, instead advocating to reduce bias and support mutual aid. The affirmative team took the win with 54% of the audience vote. As Star Tribune editorial writer Rochelle Olson told the students, it’s a joy to be somewhere “facts still matter” – making them all winners, really!
Why they keep coming back
Debaters representing four partner schools and three partner districts researched, wrote, and performed the speeches themselves.
After the debate, students reflected on how debate has impacted their lives.
“Being able to respectfully disagree with each other while still having a community to go back to at the end of the day – that’s what makes it worth it,” said Ben. Daniella, who joined in sixth grade during the isolation of the pandemic, described how debate pulled her out of being closed off and gave her “a place in civil society.” Shyamana shared: “I got my best friend through debate.” Montserrat said the community “makes her want to be a better person.”
Our executive director, Amy Cram Helwich, shared her own story as a former community-college debater. “It was through debate that I was able to travel the country from LA to New York to my final tournament, here in Minneapolis,” she said. “Debate opened up the world to me.” She dedicated the evening to the coaches who carry that forward, including her own, who passed away just last week believing to the end that students from the smallest programs could compete with anyone.
Mayors support debate, encourage youth
We were honored to welcome Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who fielded questions directly from our students about how youth can make their first year out of high school successful.
Mayor Frey’s advice to the students was to chase what excites them: “When you’re excited, you work hard; when you work hard, you have the tenacity to succeed.” He shared how his passion for distance running eventually led him to the city he has called home since 2008.
Mayor Her, who came to this country as a refugee from Laos at age three and became St. Paul’s first woman and first Hmong American mayor, spoke about finding her own voice. “I waited too long to know myself,” she told the students. “Once I could unleash who I was on the inside, unapologetically, I was ready to use my voice.”
New in 2026: donors give $73K through paddle raise
MNUDL fundraising chair Adam Greenleaf and NAUDL Coach of the Year, David Quosig, led a paddle raise. Audience members raised their hands to say, “I’ll give!” for amounts ranging from $100 to $10,000. In a single, joyful stretch of the evening, our community raised $73,000.
Sheila Peterson shares her story, offers $75,000 match
Sheila Peterson believes debate is a “singularly powerful educational experience.”
Sheila Peterson, who led our Highland Park debate team in its earliest years, reflected on the power of debate and the growing need for resources, saying: “This is no time to falter. It’s a moment for resilience, boldness, and collaboration.” She committed a match of up to $25,000 in gifts given that night, and up to $75,000 for gifts given before the 2026-27 school year ends. That means:
- $2,500 (becomes $5,000) – can pay for two school’s snacks and meals across the season with Sheila’s match.
- $1,000 (becomes $2,000) – pays travel expenses teams attending a national tournament. with Sheila’s match.
- $100 (becomes $200) – pays for 90 three-ring binders with Sheila’s match, equipping students to succeed with evidence and curriculum.
If you missed your chance to attend the Mayors Challenge, you can still give now and have your gift maximized by the match from Sheila Peterson and the Peterson Family Donor Advised Fund.
$150,000 and counting
Additional thanks to the individual sponsors of the Mayors Challenge: George Dow, Karon Garen, Veena Iyer, Meg Luger-Nikolai, Jill Skogheim, and Alex & Emily Thiele.
We are deeply grateful to the sponsors who stepped forward with a gift and set us up for a successful night. Between their generosity and the paddle raise, you brought in more than $150,203 to put debaters onstage. Thank you!
