*Debate Workshops. At least twice a year, the Barkley Forum sponsors one-day workshops to teach fundamental debate skills, to provide a forum for discussing the new high school topic, and to provide a gathering place for Georgia coaches to meet, plan and share information.

*Internship Programs. Each semester, several Emory students, in partial fulfillment of an Educational Studies class, are assigned to teach debate at local middle or high schools. Under the supervision of Melissa Wade, the internship program has taught debate skills to hundreds of students in the area.

*Emory National Debate Institute. Over two hundred high school and middle school students from across the United States attend a two-week institute at Emory University. The program is designed for teachers as well as students. Some of the finest college and high school debate instructors from around the nation teach fundamentals of debate and argument with a strong emphasis on the high school debate resolution. For more information about the Emory National Debate Institute, click here.

*Barkley Forum for High Schools. About 1500 students and teachers from high schools around the nation annually attend the BFHS. Among the oldest and most prestigious forensics events in the nation, thousands of students apply to compete with the best in debate, speech, and student congress. For more information about the BFHS, click here.

*Barkley Forum Key Society. Held in conjunction with the BFHS, the Barkley Forum Key Society is a national organization of high school teachers honored for their commitment and contribution to the students in forensics. Each year new teachers are inducted, honored, and appreciated before their peers. The Key Coaches judge all of the final round competitions at the Barkley Forum for High Schools.

*Urban Debate League. Since Emory University began supporting Urban Debate in 1985 , the small initial group of students served has grown to over 300 participants in Atlanta Public Schools. As part of the commitment, Emory University hosts an Urban Debate League tournament each spring. The Atlanta Urban Debate League has served as a model and now over 3,000 students are participating from inner city schools across the United States that did not previously sponsor debate. Part of Melissa Wade’s commitment to Urban Debate has included consulting to establish Urban Debate Leagues in cities from New York to Los Angeles. For more information about Urban Debate Leagues, click here.

*Middle School Debate. An outgrowth of the Urban Debate League effort, support for middle school programs began in the mid-nineties. Nearly two hundred junior high students in the metro Atlanta area debate at four tournaments each semester culminating in a state championship in the spring. Emory students volunteer their time to judge the debates. Many of the students entering into the Urban Debate League are getting early experience in middle school debates. For more information about Middle School Debate programs affiliated with Emory, click here.

*National Faculty. Emory University debaters and coaches annually serve on the faculty of high school debate institutes throughout the nation. Emory debaters and coaches have worked at Institutes at Bates, Berkeley, Catholic, Dartmouth, Emory, Kentucky, Michigan, Southern California, Stanford, Texas, Vermont, and Wake Forest.

*Teacher Training. The Barkley Forum assists the high school and middle school teacher in many ways. The Barkley Forum offers advice on setting up programs, provides academic and volunteer interns, teaches at workshops and institutes throughout the school year, teaches debate across the curriculum and offers programs certified by the State of Georgia for Staff Development Unit credit.

*Informal relationships. Many Emory University students are heavily involved in supporting high school debate in Georgia. Many high school tournaments occur in Atlanta and nearby. Barkley Forum debaters frequently serve as judges and some coach nearby schools on an informal basis.

*Political debates. Melissa Wade has served on the Presidential Debate Commission panel over two decades. Each Presidential election cycle, Melissa and a handful of colleagues from around the nation evaluate the Presidential debates for the Associated Press. Bill Newnam participates on a similar panel for United Press International. In addition, Melissa and Bill have both served as commentators for Gubernatorial and Senatorial elections for local print and broadcast media. Both have informally advised political candidates and lobby groups.

*Georgia Speaker of the Year. Each year, at the Barkley Forum Awards Banquet, the Emory Chapter of Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha, the national academic forensic society, honors an outstanding Georgian who has demonstrated intelligent, responsible, and effective speech. Honorees have included politicians and art directors, journalists and humanitarians. For more information about Georgia Speaker of the Year, click here.

*Alumni. Many of the alumni of the Barkley Forum are active members of their community. Periodically, they call upon Emory University students to assist with various projects. To view current Barkley Forum alumni, click here.

*Media Appearances. In addition to political media events, members of the Barkley Forum have appeared as guests in various broadcast and print journalism venues.