The co-captains were inspired, but scared at the same time, to begin their journey practicing public speaking and to give other students an opportunity to have a voice. Being the first students to launch the program added pressure to Mohamed and Farah.

The pair of students is eager for future students to join the team and learn about speech and debate next fall, but a lack of funding may hinder their ability to participate in future debate tournaments and activities. Now, the team is searching for additional money so the program can continue giving opportunities to refugee and immigrant students.

In February, the team participated in a virtual tournament with the New York City Urban Debate League on the topic of fracking. Yasmine Kanaan, a member of the team, competed against more than 60 students from different regions of New York and was awarded 12th place in the Novice Public Forum Debate division.

Mohamed said she was nervous to participate in public speaking because she’d never done it before, and English is not her native language.

“I’d never been in school, even in Africa,” she said. “It was just very different. It was very challenging to adapt to the United States.”

Shortly after that tournament, Mohamed, Farah, and the rest of the debate team spent three weeks at the North Side Learning Center preparing for the Central New York Regional History Day Contest. Andy Ridgeway, head coach of the debate team, mentored the students.

“It’s all thanks to Andy,” Mohamed said. “We’ll be meeting every single day for at least two or three hours.”

Mohamed advanced the team to state competition in the History Day Contest — the second of three levels (regional, state, national). She took first place for Senior Individual Documentary, one of the categories in the contest, on her topic, “The Diplomatic Pilgrimage of Malcolm X.” The team is awaiting the results coming out on May 2 to potentially qualify for national competition.

Mohamed said it was a nerve-wracking experience, but it was all worth it.

“It was so challenging, and that’s why it’s going to be my biggest memory because all the work that went in and some of the results that I get back, it’s really cool,” she said.

In addition to the debate tournaments, students also attend in-person school board meetings to advocate for themselves and their club. Farah is currently advocating for mental health services in schools while Kanaan is requesting that Eid al-Fitr be an official holiday on the school calendar.

“It’s really important that we talk about these (issues)…if we don’t talk about it, then like no one else will talk for us. And that’s why we’re asking for these advocates like an advocate person to be talking on behalf of immigrants and refugee students,” Mohamed said.

As their school year is coming to an end, the NSLC debate team is seeking additional funding for the next year.

Brice Nordquist, an associate professor in the writing departmentat Syracuse University, said the team is funded by the College of Arts & Sciences Engaged Humanities Network, which he directs, and a Humanities New York SHARP (Sustaining the Humanities Through the American Rescue Plan) Action Grant.

The HNY SHARP Action Grant ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 for humanities projects that serve audiences throughout New York. NSLC was awarded $10,000 for the 2022 year. The HNY’s $360,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act funded 43 New York cultural nonprofits affected by the pandemic, including the debate team.

“We’ll need to secure additional sources of funding, in addition to the Engaged Humanities Network, to continue to run the program beyond December 2022, which is the end of the grant cycle,” Nordquist said.

The grant covers paid positions of two assistant coaches, registration fees for tournaments, cost of a summer debate camp, membership in the New York City Urban Debate League, team events, and transportation costs.

Mohamed worries the debate team will come to an end as money runs out.

“I really want this program to continue,” she said. “It has helped me a lot. It’s a little bit scary if we don’t get funding because it could end.”

Mohamed hopes to reach national competition as well. As she graduates high school this spring and begins her journey at SU later this year, Farah will take on additional responsibilities as captain of NSLC Speech and Debate Team.

Farah hopes to set an example for younger high school students, and she wants to ensure that the team is a safe space for students to express themselves.

She said refugees and immigrants may believe they do not have the right to speak up on an issue, but she reiterates: “I’m just going to make sure that they have the space to talk and speak and (remind them) ‘you guys are more, you guys can do this.’ ”