Life Update: I've been selected to join the adidas Community LAB
A little about what that means + and how you can follow the journey.
Today I’m excited to finally announce that I’ve been selected to participate in adidas’ Community LAB 2024-2025 cohort!
About The Gifted Collective:
For the better part of 2024, I’ve been head-down working on The Gifted Collective, a communications consultancy dedicated to empowering young athletes with the tools they need to amplify their voices, maximize their gifts, and prepare for life beyond sport. For me though, this is much deeper than points scored, and deals secured.
As a retired high school athlete (😉) and lifelong sports fan, I’ve always valued the power of sports to drive connection and empower those who dedicate themselves to sharpening their skills. This was only amplified for me during my near decade-long tenure in Title I public schools, where I watched as so many of my former students found opportunities to change their lives through their sport. I also saw many students miss out on opportunities because they lacked the tools to maximize the platforms they built through their athletic abilities effectively.
While this disparity could affect anyone - it’s more pronounced for Black and brown athletes, who often face systemic barriers to the knowledge that can help get them to the next level. And now, with the rise of NIL (name, image and likeness) opportunities, and as participation in elite athletics has become increasingly more expensive, there has to be a way to close the knowledge gap and empower young athletes and their parents with the tools they need to tap into the financial and educational opportunities that come along with sports. That’s where The Gifted Collective comes in. I’m pairing more than 15 years of experience in communications with 8 years of education experience to make a change.
About the adidas Community LAB:
Over the course of 8 months, The adidas Community LAB will provide me with the tools and support to amplify the work I’m doing with The Gifted Collective to create change and advance equity in sports for my community and beyond. This includes $75,000 in grant funding, mentorship, and business training to help me achieve my goals.
I’ll use the grant funding to help develop and produce an innovative curriculum that focuses on media training, mental health, and financial literacy, specifically tailored to ensure that athletes are prepared for life on and beyond the field.
I’m so excited to be one of 12 creative social entrepreneurs who are walking through this experience. When I tell you that my cohort is amazing, I’m not gassing it. I feel blessed to be on this journey with them. I got the opportunity to meet them in person at adidas HQ a couple of months ago - and we instantly connected. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at that time:
What’s next and how you can support:
It’s now a mad dash to program graduation, and I have two very specific asks:
If you know any parents, coaches, or athletes who need support with media training/positioning or understanding the NIL process, please encourage them to reach out to me.
Follow The Gifted Collective on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn, and share with your community.
Your support is invaluable to me. Thank you in advance!
As today is Giving Tuesday, here are 9 more great organizations you should know and consider supporting:
A.R. Cooper - Art In The Paint
Heather Alonzo - Ball Her Way
Jamal Burger & Rachel Hale - Kickback
Jessa Williams - INTRSXTN Surf
Karina Martinez - DRAFTED
Moÿo Akinade - Atlanta Adaptive Soccer Foundation
Rich Rodriguez - Harlem Free Fight Academy
Samad Hinton - BLK Beetles
Vidal Quesada Guzman & Javana Mundy Quesada - La Familia Project
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing more of my journey, but in the meantime, I want to leave you with this: If there’s something you know you’re supposed to do, do it. Apply. Press send. Send the email. Send the DM. Whatever it is, you are one “yes” away from changing your life. Don’t talk yourself out of your opportunities. Chat soon.