The core ambition of the Sports Can Battle Racism initiative is to share information and insight in order to inspire participants to ultimately take action, stand up for justice, and impact change in all communities.
We understand that coaches can have all of the skills and drills in the world, but in order to be a truly effective coach, they must be able to touch the hearts and minds of people from diverse backgrounds. Since launching our Sports Can Battle Racism (SCBR) curriculum for coaches in October of 2020 and athletes in April of 2021, we have led over 150 workshops in 22 states, training nearly 4,000 individuals.
The Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers, New York has been a long-time partner of PCA and one of the many organizations to have enrolled in our Sports Can Battle Racism workshop and curriculum. It is our great honor to share with you the feedback we received from the school’s Athletic Director, Michael DeSimone in regard to the impact the SCBR program has had in helping his coaches and teachers establish a positive dialogue with their students regarding race, inclusivity, and compassion.
About the Charter School of Educational Excellence
The fundamental belief at the Charter School of Educational Excellence is that ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN. All children have the right to attend schools in which they can progress and learn. They shall have a real opportunity to learn equally rigorous content. The school holds itself accountable to the same standards as those of the highest performing schools in NY state with the goal of every child becoming a critical thinker and life-long learner.
As part of our celebration of the 1 Year Anniversary of our Sports Can Battle Racism Initiative, we hosted a roundtable discussion focused on a Year of Learning on Wednesday June 9th. In the past year, PCA has been focused on efforts to generate conversation and positive change regarding racism, equity and inclusivity in youth sports and our communities.