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Students

Resources for Speech & Debate Students

The Initiative supports students through speech and debate teams at our partner schools. Our goal is to have competitive speech and debate teams at all of our regional public middle and high schools by 2025.

If you are part of a current team, we are here to support you! If you are not part of a current team but are interested in starting a team and would like some help, let us know. We would love to help you find a teacher sponsor and provide information about our resources and regional network.

Speech & Debate Camps

Summer camps are the ideal way for new students to learn about speech and debate and for experienced speech & debate students to hone their skills even further. There are many summer camps to choose from. Each year the Initiative partners with our local Richmond Debate Institute camp to offer an affordable camp option for students. 

Speech and debate duo

“I have personally benefited from debate by gaining the skills of public speaking and critical thinking. It has also leveraged professional connections and good friendships. Academically, I’m able to process information and concepts more quickly with a wider perspective than before debate.”

Elise Massey ’23, Manchester High School

Contact Us

Lucretia Anderson

Speech & Debate Initiative Manager

lucretia(at)richmondforum.org

Sandra Wheeler

Director of Student Programs

sandra(at)richmondforum.org

Mailing Address

110 South 15th Street, Suite B, Richmond, VA 23219

Support Speech & Debate

With your support, we can make speech & debate programs accessible to all Richmond region students. 

Your generous contribution will help cover tournament entry fees and travel expenses, train coaches and judges, outfit students with professional clothing, support the organization of local tournaments, and much more.

110 South 15th Street
Suite B
Richmond, VA 23219

Office: (804) 330-3993
Office Hours: 9am – 5pm
Program Day: 10am – noon

Presenting powerful voices so Richmond can learn. Empowering local voices so Richmond can lead.

The Richmond Forum and its partners are proud to support the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative, a community initiative to bring speech & debate programs to all of our region’s public schools.

The Richmond Forum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization.

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