Programs
After-school program
In partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) we offer an afterschool debate program for
middle schoolers. We are currently inside of 4 DPSCD Middle Schools.
-John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy
-Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy
-Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary-Middle School
-Catherine C. Blackwell Institute
During our afterschool program students learn debate and compete against other schools within DPSCD.
8-week summer CAMP
In partnership with The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, we offer an 8-week debate summer camp.
We meet 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am-2pm.
During the summer program, students ages 11-14 learn how to debate and compete. This means researching
topics, giving speeches in front of peers, gaining rebuttal experience, and challenging their peers/teammates. We
have partnered with the University of Michigan to take field trips and help the students gain an understanding of
proper research with their librarians.
Community engagement at umoja village
Umoja Village is an outdoor community space that was built for and by the community. In 2022, Umoja Debate
Team purchased 3 lots and built what is now Umoja Village. Umoja Village is a space that features a community
garden, art, a free little library, and a stage for the community to hold meetings/children to debate. We use Umoja
Village as a space to teach the youth about getting involved and being the change, you want to see in your
community.
why we offer these programs?
Every program that we offer is intentional. We use our programs and curriculum to do the following...
1. Making daily connections between texts and the life experiences of students, films, other texts,
previous school experiences, and the topic at hand
2. Use a variety of approaches—demonstration, film, field trips, picture books, discussion—to build
students' background knowledge and regularly ask students to present similarities and contrasts
between their own life experiences and what is in the text.
3. Daily motivation/encouragement using history as a tool and reference to push forward.
