Last month, Eloquence Academy partnered with the Rural Debate Initiative (RuDI). We hosted an Intro to Debate Seminar for 50 eighth grade students at Sonora Elementary School. The program was an extension of our previous Intro to Debate Seminars at Middlebury College, Tomales High School, Trinidad Union School, and the broader RuDI network.

Located in the small foothill community of Sonora, California, within the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Sonora Elementary School serves 376 students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Sonora offers a range of academic and extracurricular programs, including music, art, athletics, and academic enrichment. The town is shaped by its Gold Rush history. Its rural surroundings foster a tight-knit community and strong pride of place. While many families face socioeconomic challenges, the school works closely with community organizations to ensure students have access to food, housing, and counseling.

Our Intro to Debate Seminars are scheduled during a school’s grade-wide assembly or town hall period with attendance required from all students. Each seminar begins with icebreakers and a short keynote about the positive impacts of debate, both anecdotal and statistical. Following the keynote, students are placed into breakout rooms and guided through their first debate round. Subsequently, all students complete a form to indicate interest in a consistent in-school coaching program. Even if some students find out debate is not for them, they see what a fun experience it is to speak and be heard.

A RuDI grant from the Tuolumne County Family Foundation allowed for the outreach to Sonora. Students worked with Director of Finance & Human Resources Mansi Arora and Atlanta Regional Director Anish Thota as well as Kelly Mu, Jared Shirts, and Grant Zhang from RuDI. They formed meaningful relationships and developed an enthusiasm for public speaking, resulting in a 50% spike in interest in debate. Over the next six weeks, Mansi and Anish will host 24 sessions with the hopes of turning debate into a permanent afterschool club.

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,200+ students across 35 states and 15 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram and YouTube at @eloquenceacademy.

Rural Debate Initiative (RuDI) is a nationally focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free debate education to students in rural areas. Supported by a group of experienced educators and passionate debaters, RuDI programs serve as a one-stop solution for all debate-related resources, providing everything a school needs to build a successful debate program. RuDI champions and leverages the assets unique to rural communities and rural individuals, equipping students with a variety of skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork that prepares them for any educational or career path of their choosing.