Help Parkrose Speech and Debate Go To Nationals :)

Hi! I'm Rachael Wilczewski and I'm the Director of Speech and Debate at Parkrose High School in Northeast Portland.

Speech and debate is one of the most, if not ~the~ most, educational and beneficial activities a student can join. Students learn portable skills such as: communication, public speaking, researching, and critical thinking, all of which help prepare students for higher education and the workplace. While debate is the most beneficial, it is also the most expensive, producing one of the largest wealth gaps in high school activities. Students from wealthy districts receive institutional and parental financial support, allowing them to travel monthly, sometimes even bi-monthly, to compete. They also receive the most coaching, get the best judging feedback, and attend debate camp in the summer to sharpen their skills. Low income students with the same talents and skills are often at a disadvantage as they are unable to access the same tournaments, travel, and summer camps as their peers. These tournaments and camps can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per tournament / camp, with some debate teams spending well upwards of $100,000 per year on their programs.

Parkrose High School's program, re-started in 2022 with the help of the National Urban Debate League, has given students great opportunities to learn and grow, but it still faces many financial and institutional barriers. Our team, located in a low-income district, receives little-to-no school funds, and we are struggling to support our students compete at their highest potential. We are here to raise funds for qualified students to compete at the National Speech and Debate tournament this June and beyond. If qualified, a tournament like this costs thousands of out-of-pocket dollars to attend, which places underfunded schools at a serious disadvantage.

Pictured: Niko and Tom, Parkrose's top policy debate team. As sophomores, they took first place in the Mt. Hood conference, won several local tournaments, and qualified for the highly competitive Urban Debate National Championship and National Speech and Debate tournament.

All funds are going directly to Niko and Tom to compete at the National Speech and Debate tournament in June of 2024. All funds raised outside of National Speech and Debate tournament costs will go directly to tournament registration fees, travel, and student food expenses for all students during the '24-'25 season.

Thank you for supporting our team. :)