PRINCETON, N.J. -A message from the Ivy League men's and women's head basketball coaches…
We have heard our student-athletes' and communities' call to action. We have seen all the anger, disappointment and hurt from the last few weeks. This is how we will stand together to proceed forward on the path of making progress for humanity. This is our promise.
The Ivy Promise represents the Ivy League basketball coaches' commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. While individually our platforms are influential, combined our platforms can be a catalyst for change. We are committed to achieving reform. We will stand against inequality and discrimination until all people are afforded the same opportunities in wages, healthcare, housing, education, and criminal justice. Together we will stand for justice, educate the people, and support our communities.
Our initial action items as a league are as follows:
- As the Head Coaches of Ivy League Basketball, we will use our status and privilege to be vocal advocates for equality for all.
- When possible, our programs will buy from local black and minority owned businesses to help uplift our communities economically and decrease the wealth gap.
- Our coaches and student-athletes will not only participate in All Vote No Play on November 3, but also use our voting power in local and state elections because that is where topics like criminal justice reform begin.
- We will use our games on MLK Day and during Black History Month in February to avidly celebrate Black history and Black excellence.
- Each Ivy League basketball team will donate to and volunteer with the local organizations that are working to address the specific needs of our community.
This is just the beginning.
Coaches Q & A:
- Why is the Ivy Promise important to you?
COACH DELANEY-SMITH: The Ivy Promise is important to me because I have learned more about anti-racism in the last three weeks than in the last thirty years. I have felt more motivation, energy and drive. I have seen more resilience and determination and I am more hopeful than ever because of the historic changes we are already seeing.
COACH AMAKER: The Ivy Promise is important to me because a promise is synonymous with a commitment. The Ivy Promise represents our league's collective commitment to supporting a cause – eliminating systemic racism and establishing a more equal society – that is right, and that is long overdue.
- What does it mean to be part of a league that supports this movement?
COACH DELANEY-SMITH: I have always believed that the Ivy League is the model in this country for academic and athletic excellence and once again, I could not be more proud of how the League has stepped up and taken immediate action, from the top down, all schools, all sports.
COACH AMAKER: I am incredibly proud to represent Harvard and to be a part of the Ivy League. I am especially proud because our league is not only making statements, but also making stands. It is one thing to talk about action, and another to act. By uniting around the Ivy Promise, we are taking action and carrying forward the missions of our respective institutions.
- What specific actions are you taking to hold yourself and your program accountable?
COACH DELANEY-SMITH: We have appointed co-chairs of our Friend's Group to oversee equity, diversity and inclusion. We have associated with Big Sister Boston to mentor and role model. We will look to continue to educate every time we travel and we will add antiracism strategies to our ongoing leadership development program.
COACH AMAKER: Our first action is to continue to emphasize a core value that we have always had in our program: to do well and to do good. We are proud of all of the initiatives and programming that we have in place already, and are eager to find new avenues to do more – in education, in community outreach, etc. We also pledge to continue to support our players and to continue to establish an environment where we can have dialogue about important social issues.
