When The Stars Are In Align: Ronni Savage Dreams Into Reality

Women of Concern Professionals & Strategic Conscious Networking (WOCPSCN) will celebrate our 13th Linkedin group anniversary in December.? Although WOCPSCN originated on the Linkedin business social media site, we have become so much more.?This is one of our stories, which is Urban Gurl/Suburban Swurl our global initiative that increases self-confidence and leadership skills in girls through sports.?

Ronni and I met as grad students at the University of San Francisco (USF) Sport Management program [1]. We immediately connected as we established similar concerns for the empowerment of girls and women of color through sports and fitness. ?We knew we would have to think outside of the box and consider ways to construct programs beyond the ordinary.?Because of social structuralization practices [2] we realized that the foremost challenge would be to create a platform that address building confidence and self-esteem in at-risk girls. ?However, while sports can raise a girl's confidence, there are still limited opportunities for at-risk girls to participate. Thus the creation of Urban Gurl/Suburban Swurl.

“I want to help change the lives of girls living in cities and rural areas.”

An active lover of sports, Ronni stated "I want to help change the lives of girls living in cities and rural areas." Understanding how critical it is to see your image in sports, Ronni started her coaching career with limited representation. She began her basketball referee and coaching career at the Inglewood (CA) YMCA as well as coaching her son's basketball teams. She is a California certified referee with referee levels in high school, junior college, Division III, semi-professional women, and ABL Pro Women. She also instructed and refereed in the Men's Drew League. Currently, Savage is a California Basketball Official Association of South Bay, and she is the secretary and instructor.

Through her years in basketball, Ronni met NBA veteran referee Derek Richardson. Richardson recently purchased the K. Anthony School, Inglewood elementary school that he named in honor of his mother [3]. The K. Anthony School was also the school Ronni's son attended during her time as a basketball coach.

“When the stars are in align [4]”

With the stars in alignment, Ronni finally achieved our goal.??While she created the Gurl/Swurl initiative in 2012, it was not until 2023 that her dream has come to fruition.? With her K. Anthony School connection, Ronni and Urban Gurl/Suburban Swurl are on their way. Beginning April 2023, the Gurl/Swurl's first semester Gulf for Girls will consist of K. Anthony School students. Their golf training will take place at the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course, where they have donated time for the program. You can be a part of "making decisions, creating change" too by assuring our golf students are equipped. Make your donation soon.

[1] We were Cohort 08 graduates under the Sports and Management program.

[2] Charles Simon. “It’s long been suspected that black girls are perceived as more adult-like and less innocent than white girls in school and other environments, and a new report offers further confirmation that this is the case [https://www.emiprojects.org/post/black-girls-at-risk-of-racial-discrimination].”

[3] Samantha Dorisca, NBA Veteran Referee Derek Richardson Buys Private Elementary School, Renames It After His Mother [https://afrotech.com/nba-veteran-referee-derek-richardson-buys-private-elementary-school-renames-it-after-his-mother]

[4] According to the Urban Dictionary, “when the stars align” is when an unexpected and nearly impossible event takes place.