Second Annual Spread Respect Forum Set for Oct. 20-22
BOSTON – Continuing to prioritize its work around diversity and inclusion, the America East Conference will host its second annual Spread Respect Forum later this month. The virtual event will take place Oct. 20-22 and is open to all athletics and campus personnel from all 10 America East member institutions.
Building off last year’s Spread Respect Forum which drew over 70 attendees to the University of Vermont, this year’s event will specifically focus on race and social justice through a variety of panels, workshops and speakers. The virtual forum will be open to all America East student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff members in addition to colleagues across campus including faculty, DEI administrators and other staff.
“We look forward to building off the success of last year’s forum and having poignant discussions around race, diversity, social justice and inclusion,” said America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. “As a conference, there is no more important initiative for us than Spread Respect. Our membership is fully committed to being an industry leader by raising awareness and providing educational resources around these topics and this event will be crucial in taking those next steps.”
This year’s speakers and presenters represent both experts in the field of racial and social justice and real-life voices and experiences from in and outside of the league. The forum will offer attendees personal introspection, honest discussion and collaborative solutions building.
Notable presenters will include Jen Fry highlighting Day 1. She is CEO of JenFryTalks, a social justice education firm that uses an anti-racist lens to have conversations around race, diversity and inclusion to educate and empower those within athletics. Day 2 will panels discussing intersectionality and allyship while Day 3 will feature Nevin Caple, Founder & Principal Consultant of Return on Inclusion and numerous panels, highlighted by Diahann Billings-Burford, CEO of conference partner, RISE.
America East is steadfast in its commitment to ending racial inequality. For nearly a decade, America East has been a leader within college athletics in raising awareness and providing education in the areas of diversity and inclusion through its Spread Respect initiative. The conference has taken several actionable steps towards combating discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religion, including making Nov. 3, 2020, Election Day, a mandatory day off from athletic activities and establishing a Spread Respect Advisory Group, which is addressing systemic racial injustice and inequality and its direct impact on those within the conference.
Click here to learn more about America East’s Spread Respect initiative.
Spread Respect 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, #AEBetterTogether, 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 the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com or follow the America East Conference on Twitter @AmericaEast.
- #3Pillars – Building the Complete Student-Athlete -