Houston Urban Debate League

The Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL, pronounced “huddle”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. HUDL’s mission is to provide and maintain competitive academic debate in Houston-area public high schools and middle schools and, ultimately, disrupt the cycle of poverty that exists in Houston communities. HUDL is affiliated with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) and functions in close partnership with the Houston Independent School District (HISD).

HUDL was formed in 2008 because a small group of community leaders believed that debate advances a long-term strategy to disrupt the cycle of poverty in low-income communities by improving students’ academic performance and advocacy skills. When HUDL began, only two HISD high schools had debate teams. Today, HUDL serves more than 1000 students at 29 HISD high schools and 7 HISD middle schools. HUDL is the second largest and fastest growing program in the nation-wide Urban Debate League network.