College of Health and Human Performance

Join the Department of Sport Management at the College of Health & Human Performance and Clemon Consulting Group for this exciting lecture series.

The five-part Athletes & Activism Forum is a series of conversations exploring elite athletes’ engagement of social justice causes, including history, effectiveness, impact on careers and recent increases in activity around racial injustice. Download flyer about the forum.

•••••••••

ATHLETES & ACTIVISM: PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE

| Session 1 |

Athlete Development & Frameworks for Discussing Athletes and Activism
08/19/2020 @ 3 p.m. EDT via Zoom

>> watch session 1 video HERE

In this session, Michael Sagas, Ed.D., professor and interim chair of UF Department of Sport Management, and A. Michelle Clemon, JD, (MSSPM ’18) Owner/Principal of the Clemon Consulting Group, revisit a 2018 conversation on athletes and activism and discuss how the landscape has changed over the last two years along with the implications for athletes from an athlete development perspective.

| Session 2 |

Nothing New Under the Sun: Athletes and Protest in the U.S.
9/10/2020 @ 3 p.m. EDT via Zoom - Register Now 

This session will provide a brief historical overview of athletes’ protests and examine how modes of protest have evolved over time and what lessons can be gleaned from previous protest efforts.

>> watch session 2 video HERE

PARTICIPANTS (pictured left-to-right):

• J. Kenyatta Cavil, Ed.D., Professor of Sport Management, Sport Studies & Sports Entertainment, Texas Southern University
• Maurice J. Hobson, Ph.D, Associate Professor of African American Studies and Historian, Georgia State University
• Kathryn Morgan, Ph.D., Full Professor, Director, African American Studies Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Facilitator/Moderator: A. Michelle Clemon, JD

| Session 3 |

Perspectives from the Social Justice Field: Community Activists and Social Justice Organizations on Athletes’ Activism
09/22/2020 @ 3 p.m. EDT via Zoom - Register Now 

This discussion will provide insight from the social justice practitioner’s perspective on the impact that athletes have on social justice movements and efforts. Panelists will also provide specific examples of what player engagement in activism looks like and assess the effectiveness of their efforts.

>> watch session 3 video HERE

PARTICIPANTS (pictured left-to-right):

• Diahann Billings-Burford, CEO of RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality)
• Damon Hewitt, Executive Vice President,  Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Marie King, Head of Local Voices Network Alabama, Activist, Speaker and Trainer

Facilitator/Moderator: A. Michelle Clemon, JD

| Session 4 |

Perspectives from Sport Management: The Miami HEAT as Case Study
10/6/2020 @ 3 p.m. EDT via Zoom - Register Now 

In this session, Steve Stowe, VP and Executive Director of the Miami Heat Charitable Fund/Miami HEAT Basketball Operations, will share his insights and experience as an executive of a high profile sports organization utilizing its platform to address social justice issues. Mr. Stowe will provide instructive examples of how the HEAT have reacted historically and in recent times to racial justice issues in a manner consistent with team culture and ethos.

>> watch session 4 video HERE

PARTICIPANT: Steve Stowe, VP and Executive Director, Miami Heat Charitable Fund/Miami Heat Basketball Operations

[TENTATIVE]

| Session 5 |

Player Empowerment and Activism in the Age of Racial Reckoning and COVID-19 
Date and time TBD

In this session, elite athletes will discuss their engagement of social justice issues and provide their assessment of where they see athlete activism heading going forward.

Proposed Participants: Professional and Collegiate Athletes TBA

Learn about degrees in Sport Management >

Read more about inclusion, diversity, equity and access at UF HHP >