Hosted by Gwen Walz, Urban Debaters Tackle Implications of AI at 2024 Mayors Challenge
And the winner of the 2024 Mayors Challenge: The Great AI Debate was…
Congratulations to the Negative Team, Sai Yang (Johnson HS, SPPS) and Laura Afriyie (Tartan HS, ISD 622) for winning the 2024 Mayors Challenge with 58% of the audience vote!
Laura & Sai made a convincing case about the dangers posed by AI to democracy, jobs, and the environment. Max Ulven (Central HS, SPPS) and Ani McQuillen (Roosevelt HS, MPS) advocated strongly for AI’s potential role in healthcare and innovation.
Both teams did an excellent job – and really, we’re all winners, because…
We raised $162,087 for debate!
You topped our ticket sales and sponsorships with another $13,106 in gifts made during the reception. A generous match of up to $25,000 from Sheila Peterson brought our overall total to $162,087!
That’s double what our 2023 Mayors Challenge raised – we’re overjoyed and grateful to kick off our 20th Anniversary Celebration with such generosity.
More Highlights of the Event
Gwen Walz received a collage of moments we captured of her spending time with our students over the years. | Photo Credit: Marina Que
Gwen Walz shared powerful words about why debate matters
First Lady of Minnesota, MNUDL Board Member, and former speech & debate coach Gwen Walz kicked off the night with opening remarks. She shared:
“What educators and coaches work at, and dream of, is the possibility of transformation – for students to find their voices, to articulate their ideas, and to challenge, most of all, themselves. What we know about debate is that it does just that for students, and for all of us…
If ever there was a time to research and discuss and engage one another, it is now. If ever there was a time to support ideas with real information and real facts and real evidence, it is now.
Our hope is that our democracy looks much more like a debate team.”
Steve Simon examined AI & election integrity
Nina Moini from MPR News facilitated the discussion. | Photo Credit: Marina Que
Ahead of the 2024 election, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon shared the methods Minnesota is using to address AI and election integrity, Greater Minnesota voter outreach, and election worker safety. He also shared about his own experience as a high school debater in Hopkins, saying:
“The thing I remember most about my time in debate is the camaraderie. I’m still friends with the people I met through debate. I still have these visions of riding in the van together, cranking up the music, sharing in our nervousness and excitement. It was a great way to bond over hot topics and techniques of persuasion. It’s something that will never leave me.”
Mayor Carter & Mayor Frey returned to speak with students about local issues
Mayor Melvin Carter and Mayor Jacob Frey shared a laugh as they fielded questions from our debaters. | Photo Credit: Marina Que
Each of our debaters got a chance to ask Mayor Melvin Carter (St. Paul) and Mayor Jacob Frey (Minneapolis) their burning questions about local policies.
Highlights included combatting climate change locally, citywide efforts to enhance public education, a shared love of the local parks system, and how change is made at the city level.
Rep. Cedrick Frazier was honored with the Champion of Change Award
Representative Cedrick Frazier received his award from our Executive Director, Amy Cram Helwich, and Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow.
Representative Cedrick Frazier received our Champion of Change Award, which honors courageous and inspirational leadership in the community. Rep. Frazier was recognized for his work in education, criminal justice reform, and workforce development. In his acceptance speech, Rep. Frazier said:
“Securing funding for the MNUDL was one of our best achievements in the legislature. It’s going to have an impact for generations. Students will have the ability to become critical thinkers and great debaters. In a time when we’re so polarized, this is going to have such a positive impact on our democracy.”
Special thanks to Pres. Paul Pribbenow
President Paul Pribbenow expressed his support of the Minnesota Urban Debate League at the event. | Photo Credit: Marina Que
We are grateful to Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow for leading our call to action last night, saying:
“Augsburg can start college preparation in middle school through the MN Urban Debate League. We can nurture kids for years before they even think about college. Instead of building a college pipeline, we’re growing a community garden, where we plant seeds, knowing they will take years to bloom but will be stronger for the tending.”
It was all possible thanks to our generous sponsors.
Leading organizations from law, the arts, education, and more stepped up to engage in our conversation on AI. Their support empowers the next generation of leaders to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active global citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities.
Our Media Sponsor:
Thank you so much to The Minnesota Star Tribune for returning as our 2024 Media Sponsor! They supported our debaters by providing in-kind media support for the event. We deeply appreciate their continued support of our work.
$7,500 Sponsors
- Hogen Adams
- Minnesota Humanities Center
- Zimmerman Reed
$5,000 Sponsors
- Entenza Law Firm
- Lathrop GPM
- Little Law, LLC
- Lockridge Grindal Nauen
- National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
- Taft
$2,500 Sponsors
- Adam Garen & RBC Wealth Management
- Allianz Life
- Berger Montague
- Briol and Benson
- Blaze Credit Union
- Dorsey
- Faegre Drinker
- Greenberg Traurig
- Greene Espel
- $2,500 Sponsors (cont’d)
- Gustafson Gluek PLLC – Minneapolis
- Nilan Johnson Lewis
- Shavlik Family Foundation
- Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
- Zelle
$1,000 Sponsors
- UMN Hubbard School of Journalism
Individual Sponsors:
- Alex Thiele
- George Dow
- Jill Skogheim
- John & Joan Evans (Augsburg graduates)
- Karon Garen
- Mark Raderstorf
- Meg Luger-Nikolai
- Richard Ginsberg
- Steve Liss
- Veena Iyer
