People
August 31, 2010
Urban debate leaders visit White House
President Barack Obama recently welcomed to the Oval Office the 2010 Urban Debate National Champions. Included were Grady High School student Michael Barlow from the Atlanta Urban Debate League (to the immediate right of President Obama), and Emory Barkley Forum debate coach James Roland (second from the left), director of the Atlanta UDL and director of programs for the National Debate Project.
In addition to meeting the president, the group toured the nation’s capital and met with lawmakers including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, National Economic Council Director Larry Summers, and more than 10 senators and representatives. Roland and Barlow also met with U.S. Rep John Lewis of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Urban Debate League was founded by Emory’s Barkley Forum 25 years ago as an outreach project to local schools. There are now 25 UDL chapters around the country.
