St. John's University Athletics
BIG EAST Announces New Partnership with RISE
7/22/2020 4:04:00 PM | General
NEW YORK -- The BIG EAST Conference has announced a conference-wide partnership with RISE that will extend through the 2021-22 academic year. RISE is a leading provider of educational programming that equips sports leaders to create positive change on matters of racism, social justice and equality. Over the next two years, RISE will provide a range of programming to BIG EAST stakeholders, including leadership workshops, civic engagement education, town halls and fan activations at the conference level and with all eleven BIG EAST member institutions.
"This exciting new partnership with RISE will help stimulate meaningful dialogue within our conference about how to effectively combat bigotry in our communities and our country," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "We believe our student-athletes, especially, will benefit enormously from RISE's wide range of offerings and hope they walk away feeling empowered about their ability to build a more inclusive and racially equitable world."
"Sports can be the ultimate unifier and a powerful platform to tackle the most pressing issues of racism and inequity," said RISE CEO Diahann Billings-Burford. "We are proud and excited to partner with the BIG EAST to equip their entire athletic community to be leaders in eradicating racism, championing social justice and fostering more inclusive environments on their campuses and beyond."
Lee Reed, Georgetown University Director of Athletics, who serves on the RISE Board of Directors, added, "RISE is an incredible organization and I'm proud to serve on its Board of Directors. The BIG EAST's partnership further solidifies the league's commitment to inclusivity and diversity programming which will greatly benefit student-athletes, coaches and staff across all eleven institutions. RISE offers a host of opportunities within the social justice space for everyone to get involved and I'm excited for the league to once again be on the forefront of change."
Beginning this fall, RISE will facilitate virtual leadership sessions within each BIG EAST member institution that will surface perspectives and assess campus cultures. The sessions will allow student-athletes, coaches and staff to define challenges that might exist on campus, discuss strategies to overcome them, and develop skills to become more effective leaders and champions for diversity and inclusion within their teams, schools and communities.
RISE will also provide the BIG EAST with a non-partisan civic engagement curriculum that will help equip student-athletes to make an impact more broadly in their lives using the lens of sports. The curriculum will offer examples of present-day opportunities for student-athletes to get involved in the spectrum of American civic life, including through advocacy, community service and mentorship. RISE will also provide programming around voter education and voter registration, including in connection with Election Day.
The BIG EAST has previously announced the launch of "BE the Change," an advocacy platform designed to dismantle racial stereotypes, foster respect and develop leaders and allies who will inspire action and positive change in BIG EAST communities and nationwide.
"This exciting new partnership with RISE will help stimulate meaningful dialogue within our conference about how to effectively combat bigotry in our communities and our country," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "We believe our student-athletes, especially, will benefit enormously from RISE's wide range of offerings and hope they walk away feeling empowered about their ability to build a more inclusive and racially equitable world."
"Sports can be the ultimate unifier and a powerful platform to tackle the most pressing issues of racism and inequity," said RISE CEO Diahann Billings-Burford. "We are proud and excited to partner with the BIG EAST to equip their entire athletic community to be leaders in eradicating racism, championing social justice and fostering more inclusive environments on their campuses and beyond."
Lee Reed, Georgetown University Director of Athletics, who serves on the RISE Board of Directors, added, "RISE is an incredible organization and I'm proud to serve on its Board of Directors. The BIG EAST's partnership further solidifies the league's commitment to inclusivity and diversity programming which will greatly benefit student-athletes, coaches and staff across all eleven institutions. RISE offers a host of opportunities within the social justice space for everyone to get involved and I'm excited for the league to once again be on the forefront of change."
Beginning this fall, RISE will facilitate virtual leadership sessions within each BIG EAST member institution that will surface perspectives and assess campus cultures. The sessions will allow student-athletes, coaches and staff to define challenges that might exist on campus, discuss strategies to overcome them, and develop skills to become more effective leaders and champions for diversity and inclusion within their teams, schools and communities.
RISE will also provide the BIG EAST with a non-partisan civic engagement curriculum that will help equip student-athletes to make an impact more broadly in their lives using the lens of sports. The curriculum will offer examples of present-day opportunities for student-athletes to get involved in the spectrum of American civic life, including through advocacy, community service and mentorship. RISE will also provide programming around voter education and voter registration, including in connection with Election Day.
The BIG EAST has previously announced the launch of "BE the Change," an advocacy platform designed to dismantle racial stereotypes, foster respect and develop leaders and allies who will inspire action and positive change in BIG EAST communities and nationwide.
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