Edie Canter has joined the CDC as its Executive Director. Ms. Canter was previously Director of Development and Communications at Leadership Greater Chicago, as well as the principal of Persuasion Plus and Law Offices of Edith F. Canter. With Ms. Canter’s addition to the staff, the Chicago Debate Commission, already running the largest urban debate league in the nation, will be able to build organizational capacity for continuing growth.

Les Lynn, founding Executive Director and the major force behind the establishment and growth of the CDL, continues at the Chicago Debate Commission as Director of Programming. Mr. Lynn will be able to devote his full attention to program work and development, giving the organization the staffing capacity to bring the powerful benefits of debate to a growing number of Chicago’s youth.

Ms. Canter is a graduate of Princeton University and Boston University School of Law. She was a high school debater and participated in forensic speaking at Princeton. Ms. Canter comments, “I credit my years in debate with preparing me for success in college, law school, the legal profession and nonprofit management. I am delighted to take this leadership role as an advocate for debate for urban youth.”

Other recent additions to the staff include Mary Penn, Development, Communications and Administrative Manager, and Donna Montgomery, Accounting Associate and Information Manager. You’ll learn more about Mary and Donna in the next issue of the Chronicle.