About Us
Eloquence Academy unites individuals, partners, and communities to tackle pressing challenges, building hope through effective, compassionate action.
Our HistoryAs the world’s largest youth-led nonprofit organization focused on debate accessibility, our story captures the magic of young people.
At Eloquence Academy
We envision an extraordinary future in which all young people are engaged in critical discourse, informed by evidence, and empowered to serve as dynamic leaders within their communities.
Our educational programs provide enriching experiences that strengthen these skills, reduce education inequity, and encourage a lifelong openness, collaboration, and thirst for further learning. Students find themselves, their friends, and their purpose.
Our WhatOur flexible options allow families and schools to chart a meaningful trajectory for their students—where critical thinking and public speaking are developed from the first day.
A Legacy of Excellence
Young people possess an unmatched combination of creativity, authenticity, and digital fluency.
Eloquence Academy is proud to be one of the world’s leading youth-led nonprofit organizations, driving ambitious action and pioneering innovative solutions that create meaningful, lasting change. Additionally, Eloquence Academy is the world’s largest youth-led nonprofit organization focused on debate accessibility.
Founded and led by an exceptional team of young debaters—almost entirely under the age of 18—our organization brings fresh perspective to every program we create. Our near peer-to-peer model fosters an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and growing with confidence. We believe the best mentors are those who have recently walked the same path.
Rural Focus
Geography
Rural residents make up 15% of the U.S. population but are spread across 72% of the nation’s land mass. As a result, rural students may travel up to three hours to reach school. Rural debate programs face similar geographic barriers: they often lack access to resources, being isolated from “debate hotspots” where student participation and tournament opportunities are more concentrated.
Staffing
Rural teachers face larger workloads and increased stress; for instance, science teachers are often asked to teach biology, chemistry, and physics, with most electing to leave after their first three years. Constant turnover presents administrative difficulties and is disruptive to sustained student learning.
Our HowExplore the principles, standards, values, and commitments that guide how we serve.
The following statements, on topics of land acknowledgement, non-discrimination, and the Trump/Vance administration, were ratified by the Board of Trustees. They apply to all programs and activities of Eloquence Academy, including admissions, enrollment, financial aid, education programs, vendor relationships, and employment policies.
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Eloquence Academy is based in the New York City metropolitan area. We acknowledge that we are on the ancestral land of the Lenape people and that Manhattan was a slave trade market built on the unpaid labor of enslaved people. We honor their legacy and stand firmly with all marginalized people of this land who have been stripped of their rights to self-determination.
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In its operations, Eloquence Academy does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race; color; creed or religion; national origin; alienage or citizenship status; gender; pregnancy; gender identity and expression; age; disability; sexual orientation; partnership status; medical condition (including having or being perceived as having HIV/AIDS-related conditions); marital status; caregiver status; familial status; sexual and reproductive health decisions; genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic; status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses, or stalking; military status; unemployment status; credit history; record of prior arrest or conviction; height; weight; or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We remain committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment at Eloquence Academy.
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As a supplement to its extensive private philanthropy and donor stewardship efforts, Eloquence Academy maintains longstanding partnerships with federal agencies. About 8% of the annual operating budget is funded by a grant from the Corporation for National & Community Service, dba AmeriCorps.
As a federal grant recipient, Eloquence Academy is required to comply with applicable federal laws, regulations, grant terms and conditions, and guidance issued by AmeriCorps. This includes implementing, where applicable, executive orders, memoranda, and guidance issued by the President of the United States of America, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). As part of its oversight responsibilities, AmeriCorps requires grantees to monitor subrecipients for compliance with applicable federal requirements. Accordingly, Eloquence Academy has reviewed its programs and operations and has implemented the following executive orders where applicable to its federally-funded activities:
Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to The Federal Government
It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. “Sex” shall refer to an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female. “Sex” is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of “gender identity.” When administering or enforcing sex-based distinctions, every agency and all Federal employees acting in an official capacity on behalf of their agency shall use the term “sex” and not “gender” in all applicable Federal policies and documents. Federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.
Unleashing American Energy
All activities, programs, and operations associated with the American Climate Corps, including actions taken by any agency shall be terminated immediately.
Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing
Terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and “environmental justice” offices and positions (including but not limited to “Chief Diversity Officer” positions); all “equity action plans,” “equity” actions, initiatives, or programs, “equity-related” grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees or contractors.
Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity
Each counterparty or grant recipient must ensure its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code; and require such counterparty or recipient to certify that it does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.