Our Story

Youth Debate Academy began in 2021, when Founder and Head Coach Emily Zhang was at lunch one day, and reflected on how slim and expensive debate opportunities for middle school students really are. As an 8th grade student herself at the time, she struggled to find instructors and tournaments to attend; any classes or programs that were available costed thousands and thousands of dollars each year. Emily pitched her idea--a speech & debate program for middle schoolers completely free of charge--to her friend and long-time debate partner Amber Lan. That weekend, they put together a website and schedule for a two-week virtual debate camp, and Youth Debate Academy was born.