March 8, 2022 | By Sayyida Jean-Charles
The BDL strives to maintain learning spaces for the voices of young women. So on this International Women’s Day, we honor our young women debaters.
In a world where young men dominate in the competitive debate circuit, we find that more than half of BDL’s debaters are young women. Through the power of argumentation, the BDL champions our young women to break through the barriers they face in school and in life. Our young women begin their competitive debate careers in the classroom, and apply what they learn to the world beyond debate.
Current BDL debater Xyra Mercer credits debate with helping her improve her self-confidence and how she presents herself in spaces, saying that engaging with debate taught her “to raise [her] voice in any matters [she] sees fit.”
Young women around the world face a multitude of challenges when it comes to being heard, but here at the BDL, young women from all different backgrounds come together to engage in competitive debate and argumentation. Through this activity, they build a spirit of activism and develop the skills to use their voices to make change.
In 2021, Kim Willingham was named Executive Director – the first woman and first Black leader – of the Boston Debate League. Before being named ED, Kim served as the BDL’s Director of Culture and Engagement and prior to that as an Instructional Coach on the Debate-Inspired Classrooms team. Throughout her 20+ years in education, Kim has held multiple leadership positions. She began her career as a Teach for America Corps Member in the Crescent City – New Orleans, LA – where she taught 6th grade ELA and Social Studies. Kim earned an EdM from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BS from Eastern Michigan University. Her experience also includes several years in school leadership and education consulting. Originally from the Motor City, she now resides in Dorchester with her two children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time in nature. Kim is grateful for the joy she gets to experience daily working with the students, teachers, volunteers, and staff of the BDL community.