Institute for Sport and Social Justice (The Institute)

With nearly 250 people in the room, we celebrated four sports leaders who have used their platforms for social good. Basketball superstar Maya Moore Irons for using her platform for criminal justice reform, pausing a legendary basketball career at the peak of her success to pursue justice. NASCAR President Steve Phelps for believing wholeheartedly that there's a place for everyone on the track and using his platform to promote inclusivity in racing. Billy Bean, once a professional baseball player, for courageously taking a stand by being only 1 of 2 openly gay MLB players and leading MLB's work in welcoming everyone into baseball. And LaChina Robinson, an analyst for ESPN and NBC, for refusing to be the only successful woman in her field and instead using her platform to help other women of color find support and success in sports media. This year's gala was a powerful night celebrating humanity, social justice, and how sport can be one of the greatest unifiers for all.?Thank you to everyone who attended and our emcee extraordinaire, Tiffany Greene.

A longstanding partner – the Arizona Diamondbacks! It’s always an honor to support an organization that invests in leadership development across its entire team. Their commitment to individual growth sets a powerful example for others. Huddle Up is proud to be part of this journey! Major League Baseball (MLB) #MLBSpringTraining

Thrilled to be partnering with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs this week at Spring Training! While the field is full of excitement and greatness, we’re proud to focus on the foundation of healthy relationships and safety. Our Huddle Up coaching goes beyond the game, building character and greatness off the field.

Celebrating 20 Years of Impact! ?? For two decades, our Huddle Up team has been at the forefront of delivering gender-based violence prevention training at Major League Baseball (MLB)'s spring training. We’re excited to announce our 2025 partners: Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Dodgers. These teams understand that developing players goes beyond athletic ability. They’re committed to developing leadership and fostering personal growth and responsibility, and we’re proud to support this kind of work. Here’s to continued collaboration and progress. Now, let’s play ball!

“Remember, we are winning. They are trying to make us fearful, but we are winning.” – Wise words from Deborah Stroman, Ph.D. CLU during our Super Bowl panel on Anti-DEI Backlash in Sport and Society. Last Thursday, we convened a group of scholars to discuss the current climate around DEI and how sports leaders can use their platform for social change. Despite the ongoing backlash, the world has witnessed historic advancements for minority groups. As Dr. Stroman reminded us, we are winning—and as long as athletes and teams continue to harness the power of sport, this progress will not only persist but grow. Thank you to our panelists, attendees, and partners who helped bring this event to life! Let’s keep driving positive change through sport. See you next year, Super Bowl LX! Lori Martin Keith Harrison Casey Schreiber Deborah Stroman, Ph.D. CLU Kenneth Shropshire Dr. Jeffrey OBrien

We kicked off Super Bowl LIX weekend in New Orleans with an unforgettable lineup of events! On Thursday, we teamed up with AthLife Inc. and Guy Troupe’s 25th Annual Players Networking Event to co-host Student-Athlete Leadership Day. Nearly 200 high school athletes joined us for a day of personal development, engaging with former NFL and collegiate players dedicated to helping them thrive as leaders beyond sport. A huge thank you to the coaches and young athletes who brought amazing energy to this day. The true power of sport begins with you. #SuperBowlLIX

Will you be at the Super Bowl this week? You're invited to our panel on Anti-DEI Backlash in Sports and Society in New Orleans. This important conversation will dive into the challenges and resistance surrounding DEI initiatives in sports and society. It will also explore how athletes and teams can continue using their platform to drive positive social change. We are almost sold out. RSVP today! https://lnkd.in/gKNZ7KxG.

Though praised today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was widely unpopular by the American public when he was alive. We remember that today as we honor his memory and continue his fight for justice, safety and equity. #MLKDAY

This past weekend, I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address to the entire athletic department at The George Washington University. It was an inspiring experience to challenge attendees to be champions of change, leverage the influence of sports for good, and act as active bystanders in the prevention of gender-based violence. A heartfelt thank you to Michael Lipitz and Rashard Fant, MPA for the invitation and for trusting the Institute for Sport and Social Justice (The Institute) to engage with your student-athletes and coaches. #GoRevs #PowerofSport #GBVPrevention

Less than one week away from Huddle Talks! Our new series of virtual, facilitated conversations is designed to build community, create safe spaces for difficult conversations, and provide actionable takeaways to help you, your teams, and organizations effectively handle the complex challenges facing sport and society. Wednesday, January 15 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET Don't miss out! RSVP today. https://lnkd.in/g28XFA9G