The Drake Athletics department announced Wednesday, Sept. 2, the formation of an initiative dedicated to making the Drake athletic community a safe, equitable, just, and welcoming environment for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, differently abled, and all marginalized populations.
A collaborative group of coaches and staff members have met since June to discuss the racial and social injustices that have plagued our society for far too long.
"Through these meetings, it became clear that we need to do more if we want to create an environment within our department where all marginalized communities are included regardless of who they are, where they came from, or the color of their skin," said
Brian Hardin in a letter to student-athletes.
The "All One" campaign is derived from one of Drake's core values: "All In This Together." There are six areas of focus that specific initiatives will be connected to:
- Listen
- Educate
- Engage
- Lift Awareness
- Empower
- Inspire Change
Immediate goals of the group include:
- Listening and supporting our student-athletes and staff of color
- Ensuring that every student-athlete has the opportunity to register to vote
- Identifying blind spots within our department and community, and creating strategies to address them
- Establishing programmatic opportunities for student-athletes and staff to address vulnerabilities of those from and within marginalized communities
Through the All One initiative, Drake Athletics will soon transition words into action with eyes set on achievement. To stay up-to-date on progress toward initiatives, to engage with the process, or to get the latest on what the group is working on, follow the All One campaign on Twitter (@DrakeAllONE) and Instagram (@drakeallone).
