Equity Commitments
NSDA Equity Commitments
A Commitment to Community
We are a diverse community with many identities and ideologies—all of which deserve to feel accepted and confident that their participation in NSDA events will be met with inclusive practices and conditions of fairness. Our organization is committed to creating communities that recognize diverse identities and ideologies, celebrate lived experiences, and protect all members from harassment and discrimination.
- We all have the responsibility to be good stewards of speech and debate.
- We embrace competition with fairness and civility and without bias or prejudice.
- We honor all participants’ right to articulate diverse perspectives and ideologies while also respecting our mission and Code of Honor.
- We recognize that every member deserves to be heard.
Since 2017, the NSDA’s annual equity commitments have outlined steps to reinforce and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organization. In 2022, we presented new focus areas while continuing our work on previous commitments.
Year in Review
Highlights from 2023-2024
In response to last year’s equity commitments…
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- 77 districts reported implementing Belonging and Inclusion Stations.
- The 2024 Activating Equity Award was presented to Chicago Debates.
- Our yearlong, three-phase, DEI Audit was completed.
- Faces in the Crowd continued as a regular segment in Rostrum.
- The Student Alliance and Multicultural Learning Alliance held their inaugural meetings.
- Three new coaches’ interest groups were created and the Coaches’ Network was introduced.
- Inaugural meetings of the Wellness Committee were held.