America East Partners with RISE; Will Host Diversity Event at UMBC Thursday
BOSTON – Expanding the scope of its #SpreadRespect initiative, the America East Conference and RISE, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, are partnering together to help strengthen the conference’s position as a leader in the area of diversity and inclusion.
RISE is a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations. The partnership will focus on research and analysis of each member institutions’ current practices as well as education and outreach.
As part of the partnership, America East and RISE will host a community event at UMBC on Thursday prior to UMBC’s men’s basketball game vs. Vermont. The event will feature several speakers including former NFL defensive back Leigh Bodden and America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. This solution-orientated conversation is focused on bringing UMBC’s athletics and campus community together to identify strategies to help advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on campus, discuss misconceptions, and determine positive strategies for change. The event takes place at 4 p.m. in UMBC’s University Center. MORE INFORMATION
“RISE is proud to partner with the America East and help inspire the sports community to create positive change on matters of race and equality,” said Diahann Billings-Burford, RISE CEO. “We are excited to see America East student-athletes, coaches and administrators embrace their roles as campus and community leaders, and empower them to use that platform to address matters of racism, prejudice, diversity and inclusivity. We look forward to promoting these important values together through the #SpreadRespect campaign and beyond.”
“We are excited to partner with RISE to help strengthen our #SpreadRespect campaign and bring a greater focus to race and ethnicity equality on our campuses and within our communities,” said Huchthausen. “The educational opportunities that will come from RISE’s research and events, such as this week’s Campus Conversation at UMBC, will benefit not only our athletic departments but our entire institutions as well.
Last month, RISE provided educational programming to America East’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at its bi-annual in-person meeting in Boston.
America East student-athletes have pledged to stand up to racial discrimination:
#SpreadRespect raises awareness to ensure equality and safety for all student-athletes, coaches and fans without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
#SpreadRespect is one of the many America East programs under the conference’s #3Pillars “leadership” umbrella aimed at making a difference for conference stakeholders, on league campuses and within their communities. Other initiatives include SAAC’s mental health campaign, #BetterTo9ether, the America East Alumni Network and Health & Safety Summit and the #3PAcademy, which focuses on providing professional development opportunities to America East constituents through its digital series and in-person programming.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through and the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
– #3Pillars – Building the Complete Student-Athlete –