Welcoming Diverse Views and Voices to the Search for Common Ground
(LEFT) FABIOLA DIAZ LOPEZ, JUNIOR AT DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PREP EL PRIMERO AND (RIGHT) ERICK ZARAGOZA, SENIOR AT ANDREW HILL HIGH SCHOOL.
Newsweek, “a premier news magazine and website that has delivered high-quality journalism to readers around the globe for more than 90 years” grounds its work in a simple mission statement: “We believe good-faith debate is in the public interest, and we welcome diverse views and voices to the search for common ground.” It’s natural to see how their mission aligns so well with the work of SVUDL and the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL). This past week, SVUDL was part of a kickoff event in NYC with Newsweek and NAUDL celebrating the power of high school debate and continuing the I RESOLVE public debate series.
Following the success of the I RESOLVE public debate this past fall, Newsweek and the NAUDL entered conversations about elevating the voices and perspectives of high school debaters – particularly those individuals that 22 urban debate leagues have the honor of working with every day. To that end, Newsweek will be launching a media hub in the coming weeks that will highlight the stories and voices of high school debaters across the country – and SVUDL is honored to be among those featured.
SVUDL students Erick Zaragoza (senior, Andrew Hill High School) and Fabiola Diaz Lopez (junior, Downtown College Prep El Primero) participated in a new I RESOLVE public debate in New York City, this time discussing the impact of growing innovations in artificial intelligence on the American workforce. Here is a full recap of that event, courtesy of Newsweek. Reflecting on the event, Erick shared, “The night of the debate could not have gone any better. I joke about having landed an impromptu joke mid-speech, but that only attests to the preparation that went into crafting this debate. Fabiola and I worked well together to put on display the skills that go into debating and showcasing why it is important to have these types of conversations in the first place. I remember she told me she felt nervous prior to taking the stage, but after I assured her there was nothing to worry about, there was no doubt in my mind that this was going to be a stellar experience.” Rolland concurred, sharing, “I’ve had the privilege of seeing both Erick and Fabiola grow as debaters for the past 3 years, in particular how they’ve developed their confidence in exploring complex topics in nuanced ways – and sharing those perspectives in such public forums! They truly knocked it out of the park in NYC, and represented their schools and SVUDL so well.”
Rachel Carruth, Andrew Hill High School English teacher and SVUDL Teacher Coach, was able to join Rolland Janairo on the trip to NYC, and reflected, “It's been an incredible experience to see our students participate in conversations about pressing topics that are relevant and important to them and their generation. I am so appreciative of Newsweek and NAUDL for giving these students a platform to share their voices and inspire more civil discourse in our culture."
Erick further shared his thoughts, noting, “I was able to appreciate New York City and the sport of debate through a new lens. By collaborating with Newsweek, I was delighted to emphasize the importance of civil discourse in our society. I have seen the rewards of participating in an activity like debate firsthand and have recognized the incomparable utility of these newfound skills in all facets of my life.”
FROM LEFT: ERICK ZARAGOZA, FABIOLA DIAZ, RACHEL CARRUTH AND ROLLAND JANAIRO.
In terms of exploring New York City itself, the team were able to squeeze in visits to the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, Katz Deli, the Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial Pools. Rolland was honored to be able to tour the team around his hometown in between the debate activities. Fabiola shared that she was “blown away by the diversity and energy of NYC and loved exploring the city's food and iconic landmarks. But the real standout of my trip was attending the debate event at Newsweek. Seeing the power of high school debate in action was inspiring, and I'm optimistic that NAUDL's partnership with Newsweek will help spread this experience to even more people.” Erick shared further, “New York City is just as buzzing and active as I imagined it would be—it truly is the city that never sleeps. I couldn’t help but feel inspired by the sights and sounds of the city, and the jaw-dropping skyline. The view from the 72nd floor of the One World Trade Center is rivaled only by the view on the 73rd. It is these types of experiences that are defining in my career as a young professional, and I now definitely want to work in the city at some point in my career.”
We are so grateful to NAUDL for continuing the I RESOLVE public debate tradition and expanding it further through this partnership with Newsweek. We look forward to sharing more collaborations with Newsweek in the near future, including but not limited to written pieces by Erick and Fabiola, as well their participation in an upcoming podcast episode of Newseek’s The Debate. Please stay tuned!
