The Practice Space

In this blog post, we touch base with a few of our new coaches in our Young Speakers Camp! During the camp, coaches worked with small “Houses” of students (like Harry Potter!) to build their skills in speech and debate. They also got to choose different jobs (actor, politician, businessperson, scientist) and focus on a […]

Three years ago, Chris MacLean, a dedicated sixth-grade teacher at Dover Elementary, participated in The Practice Space’s Youth Voice Advocates program. This initiative, aimed at advancing equity through Expression-Driven Teaching, involved a cohort of educators committed to fostering student expression during the pandemic and transitioning back into classrooms. Expression-Driven Teaching is a facilitation method that

At The Practice Space, stories of growth are at the heart of what we do. In this post, we’re delighted to share the inspiring journeys of Elohiym and Mistura. As two of our cherished coaches, they authentically embody our spirit and mission. What makes their stories particularly special is that they began as students within

At The Practice Space, we believe deeply in recognizing and celebrating the remarkable individuals who bring our values to life and embody the qualities of leadership and community spirit that we hold dear. At our most recent Legacy Dinner, we had the immense pleasure of honoring two such individuals with our Community Champion Award and

It’s been a little over a month since we held the remarkable Practice Space Legacy Dinner, planned and hosted by our incredible Junior Board of Directors. This event, held on May 18, 2024, was a magnificent celebration that brought together the diverse and vibrant community that makes up The Practice Space. From performances and activity

In the sunlit Atrium at the entrance of Leadership Public Schools in Richmond, young speakers in 3rd to 8th grade entered one-by-one, initially feeling the weight of the unfamiliar space. However, as the day unfolded, they grew more confident, eventually roaming the halls with a sense of belonging. April 20, 2024, marked our inaugural Young

Hey friends! With summer just around the corner, we’re gearing up for one of our favorite times of the year: summer camp season! This means our office will soon buzz with the sound of young people expressing themselves and having a blast in our public speaking-themed summer camp programs. It’s a time when creativity flourishes,

We love spring not just for its promise of new growth in nature, but also for the blossoming we witness within our programs. In this post, we’re taking a moment to recognize the contributions of the many college students who serve as coaches in our programs. Thanks to them, we can reach more after-school public

Our founder AnnMarie Baines had the honor of speaking at SXSW EDU in Austin, Texas on March 7, 2024, where she discussed the importance of debate in advancing equity. We’re excited to share the transcript and audio link of her talk below, along with insightful questions from educators in the audience. We hope you find

Hello to everyone in The Practice Space community! Maribel and Cynthia here. We’re excited to share a heartwarming story of how poetry, literacy, and public speaking came together to build a stronger, more vibrant community at Washington Elementary School. For six weeks, we had the privilege of working closely with two classes on a series