Brewer Foundation Announces Partnership with Howard University Speech and Debate Team

March 19, 2026 — The Brewer Foundation is proud to announce an ongoing partnership with the Howard University Speech and Debate Team (HUSDT) and the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF).

Founded in 2001, the International Public Policy Forum is jointly administered by the Brewer Foundation and New York University and is the world’s only international high school debate competition that combines written and oral advocacy on issues of public policy.

"The IPPF challenges students to think critically and tackle the world's most pressing policy issues," said William A. Brewer III, Chairman of the Brewer Foundation and Founder of the IPPF. "Howard's debate team is among the best in the country, and their involvement strengthens our mission to develop the next generation of advocates."

Each year, teams across the globe submit qualifying round essays starting in October. From the initial round of essays, the "Top 64" teams advance to a single elimination written debate tournament, narrowing the field from 64, to 32, then 16, and ultimately to the "Elite Eight" teams.  The "Elite Eight" travel to New York City on an all-expense paid trip, underwritten entirely by the Brewer Foundation, to compete in live oral debates before panels of esteemed judges. The IPPF World Champion takes home the coveted Brewer Cup along with a $10,000 grand prize.

This year, Finals Weekend will be hosted at NYU Law on April 18th, with an educational symposium preceding it on April 17th. HUSDT Director Angela Minor will join four other educational leaders and academics as a panelist at the Symposium and as a judge for the IPPF Final debate. As part of the partnership, Howard debaters serve as judges for the tournament’s written rounds.

Minor reflected on this partnership noting, "We are honored and excited to join the Brewer Foundation and NYU in the IPPF this year. Our debaters look forward to applying their competitive forensics experience to support students across the globe."

This season's focus on the global education crisis — together with the partnership with Howard — reflects the Brewer Foundation's commitment to expanding educational opportunity and civic engagement worldwide.