We are gettting closer and closer to the June 20th start date for the 12th annual Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop (MDAW)  — our summer debate camp for middle and high school students held on the Augsburg College campus — and many pieces are coming together to make this summer a great one for our campers.

Scholarships make it possible for many of our campers to attend camp, and the Minnesota Urban Debate League is thrilled to have been the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Minneapolis Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Fund and its 612 Youth Engagement Project!

Camp is a mix of fun activities and learning opportunities -- Director of Residential Life Alix giving a ride to a camper last year.

Camp is a mix of fun activities and learning opportunities — Director of Residential Life Alix giving a ride to a camper last year.

The Minneapolis Foundation’s support will be invaluable in sending more kids to camp this summer to learn about next year’s debate topic, and strengthen their research and argumentation skills through labs, seminars, group activities, and guest speakers. Furthermore, the grant will allow debaters to participate in our brand new Advocacy Unit for high school students!

An essential part of the MNUDL’s mission statement is to empower students to be “critical thinkers and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities.” The Advocacy Unit puts the spotlight upon this core part of our work.

Through the new unit, students will learn how to best use their debate skills to be effective change-makers in the community. Focusing on social justice and advocacy, students identify an issue they are passionate about and work with instructors to create and implement an action plan to make a difference on that issue.

Huge thanks to the Minneapolis Foundation and to the MNUDL’s amazing Administrative and Program Assistant Genesia Williams for being the mastermind of the Advocacy Unit and for all the work she put in to make the support of the Minneapolis Foundation Youth Philanthropy Fund’s 612 Youth Engagement Project a reality!

We’re excited for summer! Only a few more months to go!

To learn more about how to register your child for camp, follow the link below:

MDAW button