Ready to Act: Members of Spread Respect Advisory Group Named
BOSTON – The America East Conference formally announced today the members of its Spread Respect Advisory Group, which will address systemic racial injustice and inequality and its direct impact on those within the conference.
“Our conference, from the top down, remains fully committed to being an industry leader by raising awareness and providing education around discrimination, social justice, diversity and inclusion,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “The formation of the America East Spread Advisory Group will advance our progress in this area by bringing stakeholders from each of our campuses together to recommend actionable steps towards ending systemic racism within the conference and beyond.”
The Advisory Group, which was conceptualized and announced in July, consists of 33 members and spans the entire spectrum of the conference including presidents, campus diversity, equity and inclusion personnel, faculty members, athletics directors, senior athletic administrators, coaches, student-athletes and alumni.
“Our student athletes are leaders in their classrooms, universities, and communities,” said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. “As a special advisor to the Spread Respect Advisory Group, I look forward to supporting our conference as it leads by example and works to inspire long-term change,"
“To be thought of and selected by the America East as a student-athlete representative on this important Advisory Group is a great honor,” said NJIT men’s basketball student-athlete Xavier Mayo. “I am excited to begin working with my fellow members and will do everything in my power to help further the Spread Respect mission across the conference and fight for racial equality and respect.”
Utilizing the foundation of the conference’s longstanding Spread Respect initiative, the Advisory Group will develop actionable recommendations that will ensure sustained long-term impact in combating racism and racial inequality across the conference and for its members institutions. America East’s Spread Respect initiative 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.
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. 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.
Click here to learn more about America East’s Spread Respect initiative.
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.
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