Debate Mate USA is a nonprofit after-school program whose mission is to empower young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and give them the skills to combat social immobility within their communities. Debate Mate trains college students to lead weekly after-school debate clubs at schools in low-income communities and teach key 21st century skills including communication, teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking. Our goal is to improve these key skills while also increasing students’ confidence, self-esteem and ambition. Debate Mate USA offers an accessible way to develop these skills while also engaging young people with the world beyond their classroom and raising their aspirations and academic achievement.