“Standing up there, the faces looking at me, the things in my head coming out of my mouth, while my brain searched for the next best thing to follow what I was saying, and if I could sway them to my side by handling it right, then I had won the debate – once my feet got wet I was gone on debating."
--Malcolm X, 1964

SpeakFirst's mission is to enrich the academic experience of gifted students from Birmingham's public high schools through participation on an “all-star” debate team.  Starting with a select group of incoming high school freshmen, this highly collaborative initiative addresses a full array of needs in ways proven to be of great academic and civic value.  The debate training provided by SpeakFirst will develop students’ critical thinking, presentation, and public-speaking skills. 

Because debate requires self-directed learning and includes opportunities for competitive success, it motivates students who have never before felt the thrill of being responsible and rewarded for their own learning.  Through enhanced after-school and summer programs, including one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, college admissions and financial aid guidance, standardized test prep and summer internships, SpeakFirst also aims to provide participating students with the skills and knowledge they need to realize their talents and participate fully in society as students, leaders, and citizens.

How Does it Work?

After a lengthy application process, high school freshmen chosen as SpeakFirst debaters participate on a multidisciplinary, competitive debate team that practices at Architecture Works in downtown Birmingham. Students also participate in a series of field trips through which they gain invaluable cultural experiences. Additionally the SpeakFirst students also go on a variety of college campus tours to expose them to higher education and college life.  Finally, the SpeakFirst students participate in summer internships in a career of their choice so they are exposed to a realistic representation of the daily activities of professionals—an element designed to encourage SpeakFirst students to go to college and pursue professional careers.

Practice Schedule and Locations

Time: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons: 4:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Architecture Works [at the corner of 2nd Avenue South and 19th Street]

Speak First Photo Gallery

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How am I Making a Difference?

Current educational opportunities for many of Birmingham’s gifted children are compromised by an underfunded public school system and insufficient programming in non-school hours. As in urban centers across the nation, the consequences of limited learning opportunities for Birmingham’s gifted children can be devastating. Many children in Birmingham live in poverty and arrive at school with far fewer skills than more advantaged children.

Unless their school experience is one that includes well-resourced schools, and a wide array of opportunities for out-of-school learning, it is unlikely that their social and academic needs will be met.  The preparation and delivery of debate arguments provide students with the opportunity to think critically, develop research and communication skills, solve problems creatively, and increase self-confidence. 

Speak First is especially interested in students with untapped potential who are disengaged from the contemporary public school classroom. Studies demonstrate that for these students, and for traditionally successful students as well, debate often becomes the most rewarding activity of their high school career.  Because students involved in debate regularly engage in in-depth library and internet research, writing and information analysis, they often receive higher grades than non-debaters in high school and are more likely to continue on to post-secondary education.

In a time when youth violence is of increasing concern to all, debate teaches students to command attention with words rather than physical aggression and provides them with the skills to manage day-to-day conflict. In sum, debate is an alternative learning activity through which students gain the skills to become active citizens who can stimulate social change.

© 2006 Impact Alabama