Throughout California, low-income students do not perform as well as their more affluent peers, in reading and math testing, high school graduation rates, and college enrollment and completion rates. The educational opportunity gap in Silicon Valley is pernicious and results in low-income students of color not having the same chance to achieve their best potential.

The national conversation on career development and 21st century skills has generated a mandate for programs that help all students build mastery in creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, and communication. SVUDL is bringing these skills to low-income students who would never have the opportunity to participate in Speech & Debate, unlike their more privileged peers. In the process, we aim to address a lack of programs that motivate students who are disengaged from high school to develop 21st century skills, graduate, and find career success. 

Although talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. By providing access to new people and experiences, we give marginalized students a chance to pursue goals and activities that have seemed out of reach to them in the past. For the first time, students can see themselves not only going to college, but succeeding there. They discover jobs and industries they didn't know existed. They envision themselves pursuing a career. And they begin to imagine a bigger, bolder future. The connections students make with professionals and mentors support students on their academic and professional journeys, now and for years to come. Working with SVUDL, students raise their expectations of what they can achieve — and take steps toward making it happen.