Chapter NewsSep 15, 2026
Teaching speech and debate at West Valley Library
Take the Mic recently hosted a speech and debate workshop at West Valley Library, where we taught 18 students the basics and helped them get comfortable speaking up.
Student-Led Nonprofit
Every student
deserves a voice.
We make speech & debate accessible to everyone. Take the Mic is a student-led nonprofit expanding access to speech, debate, and public-speaking opportunities for students who might not otherwise have them.
The Mic Is Yours
The Problem
What happens when a student
never gets the chance to speak?
Speech and debate can be extremely valuable. But opportunities aren't equally available to every student. Access can depend on school funding, location, whether your school has a team, whether there's a coach, tournament fees, transportation, meaning hundreds of students never get the opportunity
Talent is everywhere.
Opportunity isn't.
You don't have to already be good at speaking to have a voice. A student can be an excellent speaker and still never get the opportunity to participate, because their school doesn't offer it.
Why debate matters
Debate isn't just an extracurricular. It's a launchpad.
Research from urban debate leagues and education studies shows that speech and debate changes academic trajectories, especially for students who've been left out of these opportunities.
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Higher graduation rate
Urban debate league participants graduate high school at higher rates than peers.
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Higher test scores
Debaters consistently outperform non-debaters on standardized reading and math tests.
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More likely to graduate college
Students who debate are significantly more likely to complete a college degree.
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Report greater confidence
The vast majority of debate students say it built their confidence in public speaking.
Critical thinking
Debate trains students to analyze arguments, evaluate evidence, and think on their feet, skills that transfer to every classroom and career.
Civic engagement
Debaters research real-world policy, learn to engage with opposing views, and become more active, informed citizens.
Academic growth
Research shows debate boosts reading, writing, and literacy outcomes, especially for students from under-resourced schools.
Confidence & voice
Standing up and being heard builds self-assurance that carries into interviews, leadership, and everyday life.
Based on research from the Chicago Debate League, National Association of Urban Debate Leagues, and peer-reviewed education studies on debate participation.
Real Impact
What's happened so far.
Students Reached
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Students taught through our programs.
Chapter Network
Int'l
Chapters created internationally, across multiple communities.
2029 Goal
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Students we aim to reach by April 2029.
Progress toward 20295,000 goal
55+ students reached so far. The journey is just starting.
Chapters
One mic can become
a room full of voices.
Take the Mic has a chapter system that lets student leaders bring speech and debate to their communities. Chapter leaders teach students, organize lessons, create local programs, and work with schools or community organizations.
Chapters are student-led but operate under the broader Take the Mic mission. We've already created chapters internationally.
Start a Chapter
Bring speech and debate to your community.
From the Mic
Updates, stories, and what's next.
AnnouncementJun 10, 2026
Iniya joins youth panel on "Bridging Global Gaps" at IYC14
At IYC14 in New York, our founder Iniya joined a youth panel on "Bridging Global Gaps," sharing Take the Mic's work and the case for making speech and debate accessible to every student.
AnnouncementApr 5, 2026
Iniya speaks on extracurricular access at the New York Education House
At a Fishbowl event hosted by NFTE at the New York Education House, our founder Iniya joined students and educators to discuss access to extracurricular opportunities and the barriers that keep students out.