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Debate en Español en Minnesota

May 18, 2023 | By Douglas Matute

Conectando a través del lenguaje 

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En un evento histórico, la Liga de Debate de Boston (BDL, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Liga Urbana de Debate de Minnesota (MNUDL, por sus siglas en inglés) se unieron recientemente para celebrar el primer torneo conjunto entre dos programas de debate en español de escuelas secundarias. El torneo tuvo lugar en Highland Park High School en St. Paul, Minnesota, y presentó algunos de los mejores debates en español que uno podría imaginar. Representantes de las seis escuelas que cuentan con un programa de Debate en Español dentro de la Liga de Debate de Boston viajaron a Minnesota para participar en la división Avanza del torneo.

La Liga de Debate de Boston y la Liga Urbana de Debate de Minnesota son las únicas dos ligas con un Programa de Español de Escuela Secundaria, y este torneo conjunto fue una oportunidad única para que los estudiantes de ambas ligas compitieran entre sí, mostrarán sus habilidades y construyeran una comunidad entre ambas ligas.

La BDL fue representada por debatientes de alto nivel de Everett High School, Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINCA), Fenway High School, Brighton High School y la Academia Margarita Muñiz.

Estos debatientes pasaron semanas preparando sus argumentos y dominando un tema completamente nuevo para adaptarse a un formato desconocido. La experiencia que los equipos de élite en español han cultivado a lo largo de los años fue claramente evidente durante las prácticas semanales de 2 horas, donde desarrollaron sólidos argumentos y preguntas basadas en el nuevo tema de la estadidad de Puerto Rico.

A lo largo del torneo, los debatientes de la BDL entregaron discursos elocuentes y persuasivos, impresionando a jueces y competidores por igual. Estos debatientes de la BDL se ubicaron entre los 15 mejores oradores y los 13 mejores equipos, ¡con Neurelis Bautista de la BDL obteniendo el primer lugar como el mejor orador de la competencia!

Sin embargo, el torneo no se trataba solo de la competencia. También fue una oportunidad para que los estudiantes de ambas ligas interactuaran entre sí y compartieran sus perspectivas sobre los problemas que afectan a sus comunidades. Los debatientes de Boston quedaron impresionados por el nivel de competencia y la diversidad de los otros equipos, y apreciaron la oportunidad de conectarse con otros estudiantes de habla hispana de todo el país.

Además de la competencia, los debatientes de Boston tuvieron la oportunidad de explorar algunas de las atracciones de Minnesota. Pasaron horas de compras, montando en juegos mecánicos y comiendo en el Mall of America, y visitaron el Como Zoo. Lo más destacado de su viaje fue una visita a la Universidad Augsburg, organizada por la Liga Urbana de Debate de Minnesota. La visita les dio a los debatientes una visión de la vida universitaria y la oportunidad de aprender sobre los programas y recursos disponibles para los estudiantes.

El torneo conjunto entre la Liga de Debate de Boston y la Liga Urbana de Debate de Minnesota fue un rotundo éxito. El torneo no solo brindó una oportunidad única para que los debatientes de habla hispana compitieran entre sí, sino que también fue un paso importante hacia la promoción de la comunidad entre las dos ligas. El torneo mostró la fortaleza y diversidad de los programas de debate en español en ambas ligas, y demostró el arduo trabajo y dedicación de los estudiantes y entrenadores involucrados.

En la foto de izquierda a derecha: Akemi de la Rosa, Samantha McField, Guelinton Ramos, Neurelis Bautista, Eliana Rivas, Yeylin Mendoza, Alde Jimenez, Jose Angel Solval, Dayana Ulloa, Marcela De Souza

Connecting through Language

In a historic event, the Boston Debate League (BDL) and the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) recently teamed up to hold the first-ever joint tournament between two high school Spanish Debate Programs. The tournament took place at Highland Park High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and featured some of the best Spanish-speaking debates one could ever imagine. Representatives from all six schools that run a Debate en Español program within the Boston Debate League traveled to Minnesota to participate in the Avanza division of the tournament.

The Boston Debate League and the Minnesota Urban Debate League are the only two leagues with a High School Spanish Program, and this joint tournament was a unique opportunity for students from both leagues to compete against each other, showcase their skills, and build a community across both leagues.

The BDL was represented by varsity debaters from Everett High School, Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINCA), Fenway High School, Brighton High School, and the Margarita Muñiz Academy.

These debaters spent weeks preparing their arguments and mastering a whole new topic to adapt to an unfamiliar format. The experience the Spanish varsity teams have cultivated over the years was abundantly clear during the 2-hour long weekly practices, as they developed strong arguments and questions based on the new topic of Puerto Rico’s statehood.

Throughout the tournament, the BDL debaters delivered eloquent and persuasive speeches, impressing judges and competitors alike. These BDL debaters placed within the top 15 speakers and top 13 teams, with BDL’s very own Neurelis Bautista taking first place as the top speaker in the competition!

The tournament was not just about competition, however. It was also an opportunity for students from both leagues to engage with each other and share their perspectives on issues affecting their communities. The Boston debaters were impressed by the level of competition and the diversity of the other teams, and they appreciated the chance to connect with other Spanish-speaking students from across the country.

In addition to the competition, the Boston debaters were able to explore some of Minnesota’s attractions. They spent hours shopping, riding mechanical games, and eating at the Mall of America and visiting the Como Zoo. The highlight of their trip was a tour of Augsburg University, set up by the Minnesota Urban Debate League. The tour gave the debaters a glimpse into college life and the opportunity to learn about the programs and resources available to students.

The joint tournament between the Boston Debate League and the Minnesota Urban Debate League was a resounding success. The tournament not only provided a unique opportunity for Spanish-speaking debaters to compete against each other, but it was also an important step towards promoting community between the two leagues. The tournament showcased the strength and diversity of the Spanish debate programs in both leagues and demonstrated the hard work and dedication of the students and coaches involved.

In the photo from left to right: Akemi de la Rosa, Samantha McField, Guelinton Ramos, Neurelis Bautista, Eliana Rivas, Yeylin Mendoza, Alde Jimenez, Jose Angel Solval, Dayana Ulloa, Marcela De Souza

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Bonnie Butkas, Managing Director of Development, joined the BDL in February of 2024. She is a community-minded nonprofit leader with a background in arts administration and front-line fundraising. She led development efforts at Geva Theatre Center, the York Theatre Company, TADA! Youth Theatre, and Bristol Valley Theatre, and led foundation relations at Rochester Institute of Technology. She was the Executive Director of Merrimack Repertory Theater in Lowell, MA for five years and most recently served as a development consultant at the New Art Center in Newton, MA.
Julianna Maximo, Administrative Coordinator, joined the BDL in October 2023, but has been involved in the League since she was a sophomore at Brighton High School. Over the years, she has worn many hats for the organization – from coaching debate at English High School, to being a tournament operations volunteer and logistics intern, to helping organize the first EBA Across Boston Conference in 2016. Beyond the BDL, Julianna worked in the service industry for almost ten years, focusing on education and quality control in specialty coffee. It was through this work that she became directly involved with labor organizing and local mutual aid groups, and realized her passion for building and fostering community, whether that be chatting with the coffee shop regulars from behind the counter or hosting neighborhood-wide events. Outside of the office, Julianna spends most of her time out on walks with her dog, making ceramics, or reading.
Kelly Cody, Senior Volunteer Manager, joined the BDL in October 2021. In her role at BDL, she manages and stewards relationships with volunteers and volunteer partners as well as helps lead the external affairs work of the organization. A former policy debater and coach with over 13 years in the debate community, she is no stranger to the world of debate and loves leveraging her position to positively impact the community that she feels influenced her so heavily. Kelly has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Texas at Dallas. She enjoys using her scientific background and previous experience in the biotech industry to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of debate and how the skills cultivated from the activity are crucial in all fields.
Joshua Nixon, Resolved/After-School Program Manager, joined the BDL in July 2022. In his role at BDL, he co-directs Middle School tournaments, collaborates with administrators and teachers to launch and manage debate teams and practices, works with the Assistant Director of Programs and facilitates Resolved sessions at partner schools alongside another Program Manager. Since graduating as a BDL alum in 2009, Josh has remained involved with debate, from coaching at his high school, Academy of Public Service, and at Brighton High School, to leading judge training and even volunteering as a judge. He loves working for the BDL because he believes that debate can help so many individuals who really need it. The passion and love his co-workers have for their work is extremely inspiring and keeps Josh working hard as well. Before coming to the BDL, Josh served eight years in the US Army National Guard as an IT Specialist/ Analyst. He lives in Quincy and loves spending his free time relaxing,
Douglas Matute
Douglas Matute, Program Manager for Debate en Español, joined BDL in July 2022. Prior to his arrival at BDL, Douglas worked as a Laser Research and Development Engineer while simultaneously teaching 9th-grade Physics at the Margarita Muñiz Academy, a bilingual high school located in Jamaica Plain. During this period, he also served as a coach for Muñiz’s Debate en Español team. In his role as a program manager, he aspires to expand Debate en Español across Boston Public Schools, aiming to help Latinx students enhance their debating abilities while mastering challenging topics. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. When not working at BDL, he enjoys shredding gnarly MTB trails or bouldering in the woods.
Ranner Faugas, Director of Resolved, joined the BDL as a full-time staff member in 2015, but has been a part of the BDL community for over 15 years – as a debater in high school and an intern during his college years. As a staff member, Ranner has served in many different roles, including Operations Associate, program manager, and Assistant Director of After School Debate. In his current role, he leads the implementationt of the Resolved program in Boston Public Schools to engage and empower Black and Latino boys and young men in middle and high school. Ranner holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. In his free time, Ranner enjoys reading and traveling.
Roger Nix, Director of After-School Debate, joined the BDL in July 2015. Before joining the organization, he was involved with BDL as a founding debate coach, EBA teacher leader and grad class content leader (precursor to Debate-Inspired Classrooms) at the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers. Outside of his debate work, Roger taught math and special education classes, and started the baseball and track teams at EMK. He has an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in education from Boston College. He also has a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. His favorite thing about working for BDL is helping build a community of students who care deeply about the program and want to give back as interns, judges, and coaches when they graduate. Roger currently lives in Roslindale, loves spending his free time bowling and playing softball, and chasing his one-year-old daughter around the playground.
Carlos Monteiro, Debate-Inspired Instructional Coach, joined the BDL in 2021. Carlos is a Math and Science educator with 10 years of experience teaching English Learner (EL) students in Boston Public Schools before moving to a district position in Boston for an additional three years as a Data Inquiry Facilitator. As a teacher, he was part of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) as the Science team leader while also teaching Algebra and Physics to students who had recently arrived in the country. In the district, Carlos worked alongside six school leaders each year helping to organize and plan the school staff structures (i.e. teacher team meetings, ILT, and professional development). In his role as a Data Inquiry Facilitator, Carlos also helped plan and lead district wide professional development sessions aligned to district priorities. He holds a BA in Math from Boston College and an MEd from UMASS Boston. Carlos is currently a Debate-Inspired Classrooms Instructional Coach at three schools across Boston where he works directly with teachers to create engaging activities that promote students’ thinking and discourse. As a father of three girls, he loves the work-life balance that BDL provides.
Sarah Mayper, Senior Instructional Coach for Debate-Inspired Classrooms, joined the BDL in 2014. Her longevity in the organization is due to her absolute love for her job and her colleagues, as well as her endless optimism about education and her belief in the power of young people. Sarah graduated from Brown University with a BA in English and American Literature, received her MA in Literacy, Language, and Culture at Stanford University, and received her Ed.D. in curriculum and teaching from Boston University. Over the course of her career in education beginning in 1987, she spent twenty years teaching English, Humanities, and Theater, and directing plays in public schools. Her interest in arts education led her to work with the California Arts Project and serve as the Director of Education for a Latina feminist theater nonprofit in San Francisco, as well as lead professional development focused on the arts and literacy for teachers around the Bay Area. With the BDL, Sarah has been a Debate-Inspired coach in nine Boston schools and led a research project on Debate-Inspired Classrooms with a team from BU School of Education, funded by the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative. She adores her BDL colleagues and appreciates their patience with her endless need to explain word derivations.
Marisa Suescun, Managing Director of Programs, joined the BDL in July 2013. Marisa has spent 20+ years working on behalf of public education equity through many avenues: she has taught students, coached teachers, trained youth leaders, and fostered community partnerships. She began her career teaching elementary school, in the first cohort of NYC Teaching Fellows. She completed the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, and helped lead Coro’s Exploring Leadership program for NYC high school students. Before joining the BDL, Marisa worked at Teach Plus in Boston, facilitating district and school partnerships to foster teacher leadership. Marisa earned her BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University, and MS in Education from City College of New York. At the BDL, Marisa leads and works alongside an incredible team that implements BDL’s three programs, After School Debate, Debate-Inspired Classrooms, and Resolved. Marisa savors being part of a BDL community of students, educators, staff, and supporters who are as brilliant as they are empathic, critical but also earnest, and who bring joy and humor to the work of striving for a more just world.
Kimberly Bartlett-Ra, Managing Director of Operations, joined the BDL in July 2015. In addition to the BDL, Kimberly’s 20+ year career in the nonprofit sector includes two years of service with AmeriCorps*NCCC, several years at a social enterprise organization serving adults with mental health disabilities, and several years as the founding Director of Operations at the Brooke Charter Schools. Kimberly has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Brown University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. In her role at the BDL, Kimberly leads the Finance, Human Resources, and Office Management functions of the organization. Kimberly appreciates being a part of a vibrant community of staff, educators, and debaters that are constantly pushing to make the world a better place and will not accept the status quo.

In 2021, Kim Willingham was named Executive Director – the first woman and first Black leader – of the Boston Debate League. Before being named ED, Kim served as the BDL’s Director of Culture and Engagement and prior to that as an Instructional Coach on the Debate-Inspired Classrooms team. Throughout her 20+ years in education, Kim has held multiple leadership positions. She began her career as a Teach for America Corps Member in the Crescent City – New Orleans, LA – where she taught 6th grade ELA and Social Studies. Kim earned an EdM from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BS from Eastern Michigan University. Her experience also includes several years in school leadership and education consulting. Originally from the Motor City, she now resides in Dorchester with her two children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time in nature. Kim is grateful for the joy she gets to experience daily working with the students, teachers, volunteers, and staff of the BDL community.

Jackney Prioly Joseph, Managing Director of External Affairs, joined BDL in September 2020. Jackney leads BDL’s efforts to engage and partner with community and corporate organizations to create a community of support for our students. She previously served as Director of College and Career Readiness at the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education. She has diverse leadership experience in education, nonprofits, and city government where she served under Mayor Thomas M. Menino and former City Councilor, now Congresswoman, Ayanna Pressley. A Bryn Mawr College and Posse Foundation alum identified for her extraordinary leadership, Jackney works to secure partnerships that will tap and sharpen the leadership skills of our program participants. She is inspired by the young debaters who hone the use of their voices to not only make winning arguments but to advocate for change. Jackney received her Masters in Public Administration from Northeastern University and is an alum of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.
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