Chicago Debate Commission (formerly) celebrates 20 years of fostering debate in Chicago Public Schools by making a huge announcement. On Aug. 20, the organization announced its rebrand as Chicago Debates. With guidance from Mark Drozd and his team at EPIC, under the new name and logo, the organization will better reflect its values and the youth it serves.
The rebrand coincides with the expansion plan with Chicago Public Schools to bring debate into nearly 100 schools by 2020, as well as the addition of Executive Director Dr. Toinette Gunn to the Chicago Debates team.
“We firmly remain an organization driven by the transformational power that debate provides for young people in Chicago,” Dr. Gunn says. “Chicago Debates will persist in our mission of helping students build academic, socio-emotional, and critical life skills that position them for roles of leadership and success in whatever they go on to do.”
The organization has grown the league from just five high schools on the South Side to being named the largest and most competitive urban debate league in the country. This year, Chicago Debates will support more than 1,600 students in 85 schools.
In celebration of the big announcement, Chicago Debates will host a launch party on Sept. 27 at Sanctuary Music & Aesthetics. The free event will feature a humorous Chicago-themed debate with program alumni and will be emceed by Mike Love, host of The Morning Mixtape on 106.3 FM. For tickets, visit chicagodebates.eventbrite.com.
More from Make It Better:
- Channeling the Power of Debate to Transform Students’ Futures
- 6th Annual Philanthropy Awards: The Chicago Debate League
- The Future of STEM is Female
Emily Stone is Associate Editor at Make It Better. She earned a degree in journalism from Elon University in North Carolina. Along with writing, Stone has a passion for digital storytelling and photography. Her work is published in Chicago Athlete Magazine. Stone is a supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Stone is a fluent Spanish speaker who in her free time loves a good dance class.
