MODERATOR Jemele Hill

Tim Harris

COO, President of Business Operations & CMO, Los Angeles Lakers

Michael Bennett

NFL player, activist and philanthropist

Mike de la Rocha

Revolve Impact CEO

Renata Simril

Play Equity Fund President

Play Equity Symposium – Sport for Social Justice

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles and Play Equity Fund Hold Symposium To Discuss Access in Youth Sports

 

The term social justice can be broadly defined as the degree of fairness or justice in the opportunities and access to resources, wealth, political representation, and privileges within a given society. Recent protests globally have once again put on the forefront the racial injustices that still permeate communities of color, especially Black communities.

For decades sports teams, leagues and athletes have used sport as a platform to fight for racial equality and other social justice issues. But this moment demands that we all do more. It is an opportunity to unite and use the power of sport to effect positive social change in communities across the nation.

Los Angeles has taken the lead through a collaboration of all 11 professional sports teams by joining as allies to address racial injustice, educational opportunities and support other important issues facing communities of color, particularly Black communities. This collaboration – The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles – is partnering with the Play Equity Fund to manage this initiative in greater Los Angeles for sustained impact and ensure this moment turns into a movement for Play Equity.

Drawing upon the Play Equity Fund’s leadership in supporting programs and actions to ensure all kids have access to sport and structured play, supporting the sports-based youth development ecosystem and developing partnerships to advocate for sustainable solutions to ensure kids of color have access to pathways for lifelong wellbeing, leaders will engage in an active conversation in a webinar discussion to explore how sports and athletes can use this pivotal moment to raise awareness, drive investment and impact for social justice.

MODERATOR & PANELISTS

MODERATOR

Jemele Hill

 

Emmy Award-winning journalist Jemele Hill is co-founder of Lodge Freeway Media and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. In April of 2019, Hill debuted a new podcast on Spotify, called Jemele Hill is Unbothered. Late this summer, Hill will co-host a weekly nightly talk show with her longtime friend, former ESPN anchor, Cari Champion on the Vice Network called Cari & Jemele: Stick to Sports. Prior to joining the Undefeated, Hill co-anchored the 6 p.m. SportsCenter with Michael Smith, which debuted in February 2017. Hill originally joined ESPN.com in 2006 as a national columnist. Before joining ESPN, Hill was with the Orlando Sentinel from 2005-06 as the lone Black female sports columnist in the country. From 1999-2005, she was a sportswriter with the Detroit Free Press covering Michigan State football and basketball. Hill began her career in 1997 as a sportswriter for the Raleigh News & Observer. In August 2018, the National Association of Black Journalist awarded Hill with Journalist of the Year. In July 2016, Hill participated in Emmy Award-winning The President and the People: A National Conversation a one-hour town hall with President Barack Obama. A native of Detroit, Hill graduated from Michigan State in 1997.

Tim Harris

COO, President of Business Operations & CMO, Los Angeles Lakers

Tim will explain how the 11 teams of The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles have come together in a response to this moment in history and forged a comprehensive five-year commitment to drive investment and impact for social justice in Black communities through sport with innovative and positive models of engagement.

Michael Bennett

NFL player, activist and philanthropist

Michael has played in the NFL for 11 years. He wrote a book in 2018, “Things That Make White People Uncomfortable.” During his career, he has been known for his philanthropic work through The Bennett Foundation, his commitment to supporting marginalized communities and unfiltered activism.

Renata Simril

Play Equity Fund President

Throughout the discussion, Renata will focus on Play Equity as a social justice issue, and how the Play Equity Fund will be working with the 11 teams that form The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles and professional athletes to drive sustained change to positively impact communities of color.

Mike de la Rocha

Revolve Impact CEO

Mike founded Revolve Impact, an award-winning social action and creative agency based in Los Angeles that works closely with Athletes For Impact. Michael will discuss his efforts, which are on the leading edge of working with a network of athletes to educate and inform these influencers on issues that can amplify, grow and support social justice initiatives.