Community Outreach

Each year, our members participate in 60+ events divided into three areas:

  • volunteering
  • hosting
  • competing

A majority of the first two areas focus on needs in the Greater Houston community.

Without question, the community outreach of the UH Speech & Debate Team, A.K.A the UH Forensic Society, sets our organization apart from all other colleges / universities!!!

Over 7,000 + individuals attend annual events where UH Speech & Debate team members volunteer / host.


Some annual events include the following

The Star of Hope Family Transitional Center (SOH)
In 2012-2013, three events are scheduled at this SOH facility.  UH members will buy / transport / cook / serve Sunday lunch to the 150+ mothers and children who reside at this homeless shelter.

Since 2002, the first event of each year’s activities of the UH Speech & Debate Team has been a lunch provided at the SOH facility located six minutes from the UH Main Campus.

Depelchin Orphanage
In 2012—2013, two events are scheduled at the Depelchin Orphanage.  UH students will perform improvisations for and WITH the orphans at the Depelchin facility located near Downtown Houston.

The dates of these two annual events are unique.  Each event is scheduled the day following Thanksgiving and Christmas.

These events are both scheduled for teenage orphans – since there is little likelihood these children will be adopted.

Since 2002, the UH Speech & Debate Team has scheduled these two events at the Depelchin Orphanage.

Public Speaking & Interpretation Events: Elementary Schools
In 2012-2013, the UH Speech & Debate Team will host four contests for students in K-5 grades.  Students in these contests perform either public speeches or interpretation (prose / poetry / dramatic / humorous) selections.

Houston I.S.D. has 230+ elementary schools – and the UH contests offer these schools the only ongoing opportunities for students to compete.

These elementary school contests have been created by UH and are the only events for K-5 speakers in the U.S.

In recognition of Houston I.S.D. having a Hispanic student population comprising 60% of its students – with many speaking English as a second language – the four UH contests also offer all events in two languages (English and Spanish).