Over the past few months, I’ve been working with a social impact initiative called The Raise Collection, started by a mom in my community, Jessica Chavez. Jessica works as a textile and print designer and inspired by her day job, recently started The Raise Collection, that marries her passion for closing the educational opportunity gap with her talent for fun and expressive styles! 10% of the profits of everything designed for The Raise Collection go to various education enrichment initiatives, including the sale of my leggings in our custom design available for the next two weeks and affectionately called, Bloom Where You’re Planted.
I Little Kids Leggings I Youth Leggings I XS – XL I Extended Sizes I
These leggings are both pretty and cozy, and Jessica did a wonderful job of capturing the bamboo trellis detail down the sides that are reminiscent of decorator’s trim tape that border window treatments, pillows and upholstery in so much of the traditional interior design I love. Hydrangeas are my favorite flower and I can think of no better way to wear them than on these buttery soft pants. And the block print detail at the ankle is the cherry on top. But more than just how they look and feel, I’m thankful for a fun way to give back.
When Jessica introduced me to her company and approached me about collaborating, I was thrilled to not only work with such a talented and passionate woman, but also excited to get the chance to highlight and support a non-profit organization that directly impacted my life and those of my students. For those who may have more recently tuned into my story here and on Instagram, my first job was as a secondary teacher and my experience was entirely at Title 1 campuses in the Dallas Independent School District. During the day I taught English Language Arts and Reading as “Mrs. Hamlin”, but after school I became “Coach” when I helped start the Debate program at my high school and continued coaching within the same league when I transitioned to teaching middle school students.
It was a roundabout journey as to how I got there, and I certainly didn’t do it alone. I had colleagues who stepped into coach alongside me, friends who volunteered as judges during practice rounds and weekend tournaments, and of course Curtis took on the role of cheerleader, personal assistant and field trip chaperone. But most importantly, I had students who stepped outside of their comfort zone to challenge themselves with new content, new skills, and in a new forum.
But everything I just described also costs money. Membership fees. Curriculum. The actual paper and materials that the topics are printed on for practice and competitions. Want to save paper and use e-resources? On what technology? Laptops, tablets, projectors – all come with a cost. Snacks for after school practice. Breakfast and lunch on tournament days. Tournament entrance fees. Transportation to and from tournaments. Professional development for coaches. I could go on and on, but the reality is that all of these costs combined – even just one or two – debate became accessible only by those with the means.
It is problematic that whether or not a student has the opportunity to participate in a debate program has more to do with their zip code, and rather than their talent and dedication.
And that’s why non-profits like the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues are so important. NAUDL works with debate league partners in 22 cities around the country, to provide the financial and logistical support for underserved schools in areas of concentrated poverty, to develop and maintain Debate programs. Until NAUDL, and their local partner, the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, building a Debate program was not financially possible at my school.
Amidst the harsh realities and unimaginable hardships these students faced, it could be easy to brush off something like starting a Debate program as unimportant. But during my time as a coach, I saw first hand how students’ lives were changed. My first campus was in an area with active gang activity and a violent crime rate of 3x the national average the year I joined the staff, having a safe and supervised place to be after school was valuable in and of itself. But beyond some of their basic needs being met, like a place to do homework, and have an afterschool snack, students in these programs also get the chance to hone research skills and to use critical thinking to create further questions and refutation. They learn how to listen in an engaged and productive way and they become better advocates for themselves. Research into the impact of participating in debate programs in the 22 cities across the US that are served by the NAUDL show just how transformative the experience can be.
- For each semester that a student debates, their individual grades improve.
- Participants are more likely to test as college-ready in English, Reading, Math and Science.
- Debaters have both a higher graduation rate and higher rate of college enrollment.
- Debaters are more likely to attend a four-year college.
Whether you leave this post and order yourself some leggings, or simply close out knowing more about a part of my life, and an organization that means a lot to me and thousands of students and teachers across the country, I so appreciate your support. To learn more about, or contribute directly to The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, click here. Click here to shop the limited release at The Raise Collection.
FROM FORMER STUDENT DEBATERS: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Being a part of the debate team was a significant part of my educational career because it allowed me to become an effective communicator and presenter. Participating and preparing for debate competitions taught me how to construct my ideas logically and gave me the tools to successfully deliver them verbally. In addition to the skills I acquired from participating in debate, the team-oriented environment gave me a sense of belonging. I appreciate this experience because it later helped me in my educational and professional career.” – E. P.
Debate may have started as an extracurricular, but it didn’t stay that way for long. Debate wasn’t just an afterschool program or activity after a while. It became a way of life that I saw myself using in and outside of the program. Being in debate not only gave me the chance to lead in high school, it has helped me in determining a college major (and specific class interests), determining a career path, and gave me a voice that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. Debate is the chance for many to develop the knowledge, skills, and friendships that will help them be successful in whatever career path they may choose. – D. B.
For a teenager, there is a lot to process in one’s own world but also in adapting to the world around us. Debate was certainly a tool that helped me learn to organize my thoughts into words and use them for the better. I joined debate in the 8th grade, and that was merely out of random luck because my school schedule 1st period said so. However, in showing up and realizing what it had to offer, I was glad to continue not just in this class, but as a member of the club entirely. I perhaps made myself a bit too busy my 8th grade year in more clubs and teams than I can remember, but also having had debate in my schedule was a good reinforcement of organization, analytical, and personal skills. It not only teaches students a little more about history, policy, and current events, but also teaches us important skills on the presentation of oneself. How we talk to others, how we communicate our words and ideas, how we inform and persuade an audience, how we dress and what our body language does to our performance, eye contact when speaking, pacing, questioning others and being questioned, and keeping composure; all presentation skills that we teach ourselves to create an ideal version of us. The way we perceive ourselves is the way we will allow others to perceive us too, and it was a great way to learn how to be better speakers. Debate was a great club to be a part of at a young age because it is at this age where confidence and self-esteem are critical. I recently just graduated from college and am preparing for medical school applications, and can also attest to the many fields these skills will take others students to beyond political science and criminal law. Debate is useful for just about anyone who seeks to be a better speaker. I hope this incredible organization continues to be a part of other student’s lives and make an impact as it did for me. – S.M.
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