Miami-Dade Urban Debate League Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Launch of Debate en Español

Miami, FL — October 10,  2025 — The Miami-Dade Urban Debate League (MDUDL) is proud to announce the launch of its Debate en Español initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to empower bilingual and heritage Spanish-speaking students through academic debate conducted entirely in Spanish. The initiative will officially kick off virtually on November 15, 2025, with the first Debate en Español Tournament hosted in partnership with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL).

The virtual format ensures that middle school and high school students from across Miami-Dade County and beyond can participate in this first event, removing barriers to access and creating a foundation for in-person tournaments to be hosted in Miami later this school year.

Debate en Español expands access to rigorous academic debate for students who may not yet compete in English-language circuits. The program fosters critical thinking, leadership, and advocacy while honoring cultural identity and linguistic diversity — values central to MDUDL’s mission to empower every student voice.

The November 15th tournament will include multiple divisions for novice and advanced competitors — Discusión, Principiante, Avanzada, and Nacional — and will focus on the policy resolution:

“Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos deberían limitar significativamente el turismo, estableciendo un límite anual de visitantes internacionales de corto plazo.”(“The United Mexican States should significantly limit tourism by establishing an annual cap on short-term international visitors.”)

“Debate en Español allows students to lead, think critically, and celebrate their voices in both languages,” said Kalyn Lee, Program Director of the Miami-Dade Urban Debate League. “Kicking off this initiative during Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the importance of language, culture, and access in shaping the next generation of leaders.”

Through this initiative, MDUDL reaffirms its leadership in expanding equitable, high-quality debate opportunities for every student.

About Miami-Dade Urban Debate League: The Miami-Dade Urban Debate League (MDUDL) provides debate opportunities to middle and high school students across the county, with a focus on underserved schools. Through debate, students gain critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that prepare them for lifelong success.

Contact: Kalyn Lee, Program Director

Email: klee@urbandebate.org

Website: www.miamiudl.org