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ABRAHAM
LÓPEZ

PRESIDENT

alopez@floridadebate.org

201-892-6371

JEN BURG

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

jburg@floridadebate.org

407-848-7036

NICOLE
DAVIDMAN

DIRECTOR OF

DEVELOPMENT

ndavidman@floridadebate.org

908-447-0358

AMANDA DEPALMA

COMMUNICATIONS &

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT

adepalma@floridadebate.org

DAVID
FECHTEL

DIRECTOR OF

ALUMNI RELATIONS

dfechtel@floridadebate.org

813-295-4079

KENDALL
LINDSAY

SPECIAL PROJECTS
MANAGER

klindsay@floridadebate.org

407-702-9172

FDI HEADQUARTERS

87 GENEVA DRIVE

OVIEDO, FL 32765

LET'S BE

Hustle, hustle, hustle!

Impromptu speakers who move around the room with each main point make the crowd go wild! Didn’t nail the first round? Shake it off and give it your best effort the next time around.

#ImprompTuesday

Hustle, hustle, hustle!

Impromptu speakers who move around the room with each main point make the crowd go wild! Didn’t nail the first round? Shake it off and give it your best effort the next time around.

#ImprompTuesday

Colton Collins, a 2023 FDI Fellow, recently shared how Florida’s civics and debate community has been a game-changer in his life – and we’re proud to see the impact it’s making!

Keep shining bright, Colton!

#FDIFellow #FloridaDebate

Colton Collins, a 2023 FDI Fellow, recently shared how Florida’s civics and debate community has been a game-changer in his life – and we’re proud to see the impact it’s making!

Keep shining bright, Colton!

#FDIFellow #FloridaDebate

It’s late in the day, but we just didn’t want to wait, to send you warm wishes—hope your birthday’s been great! 🎉

May your year ahead be filled with success and cheer, with moments of joy that last through the year. 🎂

Happy Birthday @flgovrondesantis !

From your friends at the FDI.

It’s late in the day, but we just didn’t want to wait, to send you warm wishes—hope your birthday’s been great! 🎉

May your year ahead be filled with success and cheer, with moments of joy that last through the year. 🎂

Happy Birthday @flgovrondesantis !

From your friends at the FDI.

Meet Marc Adler, a standout on FDI’s Board of Directors. A four-year Congressional debate champ and now Senior VP of Business and Government Affairs at CZAG Automotive Group, Marc brings his A-game in law, government and business.

Thanks, Marc, for your commitment to debate!

Meet Marc Adler, a standout on FDI’s Board of Directors. A four-year Congressional debate champ and now Senior VP of Business and Government Affairs at CZAG Automotive Group, Marc brings his A-game in law, government and business.

Thanks, Marc, for your commitment to debate!

Debate students are on WINNING teams! 🥇🏆

Did you know? After the 2021-2022 school year, students at schools participating in debate had a 72% pass rate on their Civics end-of-year course test. This is a major WIN – marking a 5% increase from the prior year and 3% above the state average!

Debate students are on WINNING teams! 🥇🏆

Did you know? After the 2021-2022 school year, students at schools participating in debate had a 72% pass rate on their Civics end-of-year course test. This is a major WIN – marking a 5% increase from the prior year and 3% above the state average!

Body language is crucial for winning over your audience in debates. Stand tall, gesture confidently and maintain eye contact to boost your credibility in debates. Non-verbal cues can strengthen your arguments and help you connect with your audience, making your points more persuasive.

#DebateTips #FloridaDebateInitiative #FDI

Body language is crucial for winning over your audience in debates. Stand tall, gesture confidently and maintain eye contact to boost your credibility in debates. Non-verbal cues can strengthen your arguments and help you connect with your audience, making your points more persuasive.

#DebateTips #FloridaDebateInitiative #FDI

#DidYouKnow? The first televised presidential debate took place in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. An estimated 60 million Americans tuned in — almost a third of the nation’s entire population at the time.

#DidYouKnow? The first televised presidential debate took place in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. An estimated 60 million Americans tuned in — almost a third of the nation’s entire population at the time.

Collaboration among members of debate teams is vital. Teams build on other’s strengths. Teams cover more ground.

Debate students: When you support each other, you amplify your influence and maximize your chance of winning.💪

#DebateTips
#FloridaDebateInitiative
#FDI

Collaboration among members of debate teams is vital. Teams build on other’s strengths. Teams cover more ground.

Debate students: When you support each other, you amplify your influence and maximize your chance of winning.💪

#DebateTips
#FloridaDebateInitiative
#FDI

On the Civics Immersion Experience in Washington, D.C., Samuel Nuebel, an FDI Fellow and a student at Apopka High, shared how competing in speech and debate prepares students for a successful college career.

On the Civics Immersion Experience in Washington, D.C., Samuel Nuebel, an FDI Fellow and a student at Apopka High, shared how competing in speech and debate prepares students for a successful college career.

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at FDI! 🇺🇸 Standing on the shoulders of our forefathers, we celebrate the birth of America’s independence!

As you enjoy fireworks and festivities, remember the significance of debate in shaping our democracy.

#IndependenceDay

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at FDI! 🇺🇸 Standing on the shoulders of our forefathers, we celebrate the birth of America’s independence!

As you enjoy fireworks and festivities, remember the significance of debate in shaping our democracy.

#IndependenceDay

Meet Marna Weston, a member of FDI’s Board of Directors. He’s been a Florida collegiate and high school speech and debate coach for many years.

His unwavering dedication to developing skilled debaters is a testament to his passion for speech and debate. Thank you, Marna!

#FDI

Meet Marna Weston, a member of FDI’s Board of Directors. He’s been a Florida collegiate and high school speech and debate coach for many years.

His unwavering dedication to developing skilled debaters is a testament to his passion for speech and debate. Thank you, Marna!

#FDI

🇺🇸 Happy Flag Day! 🇺🇸

The stars and stripes symbolize unity, freedom and resilience.

May the American wave proudly as a symbol of hope and inspiration.

🇺🇸 Happy Flag Day! 🇺🇸

The stars and stripes symbolize unity, freedom and resilience.

May the American wave proudly as a symbol of hope and inspiration.

Even the most skilled debater can get shaken during competition – so what do you do? You go back to the
basics of debate!
#DebateBasics
#DebateTips

Even the most skilled debater can get shaken during competition – so what do you do? You go back to the
basics of debate!
#DebateBasics
#DebateTips

Exciting news! FDI is meeting with 15 of Florida’s dedicated debate educators and FDI Fellow Samuel Nuebel this week to develop new speech and debate resources for teachers statewide. Be on the lookout for these resources coming soon!

#EmpoweringEducators
#InspiringStudents
#FDI

Exciting news! FDI is meeting with 15 of Florida’s dedicated debate educators and FDI Fellow Samuel Nuebel this week to develop new speech and debate resources for teachers statewide. Be on the lookout for these resources coming soon!

#EmpoweringEducators
#InspiringStudents
#FDI

What’s the FDI Speech & Debate Learning Retreat?

It’s an empowering, immersive experience to equip TEACHERS to excel in building and strengthening debate teams across Florida!

Teachers: Learn more & REGISTER TODAY: https://www.floridadebate.org/learningretreat

What’s the FDI Speech & Debate Learning Retreat?

It’s an empowering, immersive experience to equip TEACHERS to excel in building and strengthening debate teams across Florida!

Teachers: Learn more & REGISTER TODAY: https://www.floridadebate.org/learningretreat

#ICYMI Florida middle and high school students participated in the FCDI State Championship in April.

@alachua.schools students won big – bringing home a whopping 15 awards!

Read more about their achievements here: https://bit.ly/3JWaPzJ

#ICYMI Florida middle and high school students participated in the FCDI State Championship in April.

@alachua.schools students won big – bringing home a whopping 15 awards!

Read more about their achievements here: https://bit.ly/3JWaPzJ

Debate empowers students to sharpen critical thinking and communication skills for success beyond the classroom.

FDI is committed to expanding debate far and wide across Florida.

#FloridaDebateInitiative

Debate empowers students to sharpen critical thinking and communication skills for success beyond the classroom.

FDI is committed to expanding debate far and wide across Florida.

#FloridaDebateInitiative

CALLING ALL TEACHERS: Register to attend an FDI Speech & Debate Learning Retreat TODAY! Join us in Hollywood or Panama City, FL! Hotel expenses and a travel stipend are included. Learn more & register: www.floridadebate.org/learningretreat
#FloridaDebate
#TeacherGrowth

CALLING ALL TEACHERS: Register to attend an FDI Speech & Debate Learning Retreat TODAY! Join us in Hollywood or Panama City, FL! Hotel expenses and a travel stipend are included. Learn more & register: www.floridadebate.org/learningretreat
#FloridaDebate
#TeacherGrowth

On this #MemorialDay, we embrace civics education and debate in Florida, and we honor the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for our American freedom. 🇺🇸

#CivicsEducation
#FloridaDebateInitiative

On this #MemorialDay, we embrace civics education and debate in Florida, and we honor the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for our American freedom. 🇺🇸

#CivicsEducation
#FloridaDebateInitiative

Why the Florida Debate Initiative? Here at FDI, “We believe that the benefits of speech and debate should be accessible to all students in our state’s public, private, public charter schools and in the home school environment.”

#FloridaDebateInitiative #CivicsEducation #FDI

Why the Florida Debate Initiative? Here at FDI, “We believe that the benefits of speech and debate should be accessible to all students in our state’s public, private, public charter schools and in the home school environment.”

#FloridaDebateInitiative #CivicsEducation #FDI

Meet Beth Eskin, a Co-Founder of FDI, who has 33+ years of coaching and teaching under her belt.

Beth built Orlando’s Timber Creak High debate team from the ground up! Her commitment to speech and debate in Florida is unparalled. Thank you, Beth!

#CivicsEducation #FDI

Meet Beth Eskin, a Co-Founder of FDI, who has 33+ years of coaching and teaching under her belt.

Beth built Orlando’s Timber Creak High debate team from the ground up! Her commitment to speech and debate in Florida is unparalled. Thank you, Beth!

#CivicsEducation #FDI

#DidYouKnow? Participation in competitive speech and debate has been proven to enhance the academic success, motivation, and engagement of students. Debate skills promote public speaking, mental and emotional maturity, effective writing skills and self-confidence! 📚💬
#FloridaDebateInitiative

#DidYouKnow? Participation in competitive speech and debate has been proven to enhance the academic success, motivation, and engagement of students. Debate skills promote public speaking, mental and emotional maturity, effective writing skills and self-confidence! 📚💬
#FloridaDebateInitiative

The Florida Debate Initiative maintains a civic-centric focus by emphasizing current issues in debate and speech.

For more information, check out our website: www.fldebateinitiative.com

#FloridaDebateInitiative #CivicsEducation #FDI

The Florida Debate Initiative maintains a civic-centric focus by emphasizing current issues in debate and speech.

For more information, check out our website: www.fldebateinitiative.com

#FloridaDebateInitiative #CivicsEducation #FDI

FDI President, Abe López, was proud to cheer on more than 600 Florida debate students who competed in the @civicsanddebate state championship.

FDI is proud to partner with the FCDI to bring civics and debate to students across Florida.

Congratulations to all for a great event!

FDI President, Abe López, was proud to cheer on more than 600 Florida debate students who competed in the @civicsanddebate state championship.

FDI is proud to partner with the FCDI to bring civics and debate to students across Florida.

Congratulations to all for a great event!

The FCDI State Championship will be held upcoming weekend.

Students and Coaches: We’re so excited to cheer you on Saturday! 📣👏

We’ll see you there!

#FloridaDebateInitiative

The FCDI State Championship will be held upcoming weekend.

Students and Coaches: We’re so excited to cheer you on Saturday! 📣👏

We’ll see you there!

#FloridaDebateInitiative

What an incredible trip FDI’s #FLCivicsImmersion Experience has been for students and chaperones!

Today, the group visited the solemn Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, which was a profound reminder of the ultimate sacrifices our Armed Forces have made since the beginning of our nation’s story. 🇺🇸

What an incredible trip FDI’s #FLCivicsImmersion Experience has been for students and chaperones!

Today, the group visited the solemn Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, which was a profound reminder of the ultimate sacrifices our Armed Forces have made since the beginning of our nation’s story. 🇺🇸

Scenes from Day 2 & 3 in Washington, D.C.!
#FLCivicsImmersion #FloridaDebate #WashingtonDC

Scenes from Day 2 & 3 in Washington, D.C.!
#FLCivicsImmersion #FloridaDebate #WashingtonDC

“Hearing the kids talking about such deep, fundamental ideas that make up the underpinnings of our nation made my day. These kids GET it!! The trip is making history real for them. The things they debate matter! That’s amazing to see in them.” - Debate Coach Katrina Brownsberger

“Hearing the kids talking about such deep, fundamental ideas that make up the underpinnings of our nation made my day. These kids GET it!! The trip is making history real for them. The things they debate matter! That’s amazing to see in them.” - Debate Coach Katrina Brownsberger

What's the top must-see spot in Washington, D.C. for a civics and debate student? It has to be the U.S. Supreme Court, no doubt about it!

Today, students explored the historic branch!

#WashingtonDC
#FloridaDebate
#FLCivicsImmersion

What's the top must-see spot in Washington, D.C. for a civics and debate student? It has to be the U.S. Supreme Court, no doubt about it!

Today, students explored the historic branch!

#WashingtonDC
#FloridaDebate
#FLCivicsImmersion

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