During the fall trimester, each student selects an issue affecting their community and researches, writes, and rehearses a 2-3 minute speech, ending with a call to action. 10th graders deliver their final speeches within their advisory groups, and each advisory votes on one representative to speak at the grade-wide competition.

In Fall 2022, our grade-wide speakers were: Aaron H. ‘25, Cary T. T. ‘25, Eliza G. ‘25, Fiona C. ‘25, Imade O. ‘25, Matias R. ‘25, Miriam K. G. ‘25, Nora S. ‘25, Ramsés C. ‘25, and Sophia H. ‘25. Judges from the Mikva Challenge provided written feedback, and the 10th grade voted to send Aaron, Cary, Eliza, and Fiona on to the citywide competition, held on December 15 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.

Passionately addressing antisemitism, access to gender-affirming health care, eating disorders, and stress and anxiety in high school, our four speakers represented Burke brilliantly. Cary T. T. ‘25 earned a spot in the finals (top 10) and delivered her speech to an audience of local advocates and city officials, featuring prominently in the DCist and WTOP coverage of the event (“At Project Soapbox, D.C. Students Urge Local Officials To Take Action On Issues Close To Home” - Dec. 15). Congratulations!