USA Triathlon has opened registration for its first-ever ‘Together, We Thrive: Actions for Change’ Summit. This is billed as a free virtual event open to the entire multisport community on Saturday, November 7.
The summit will explore topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) in multisport – with a ‘focus on presenting actionable ideas that athletes, club leaders, coaches, race directors and other multisport enthusiasts can implement at the local level to create change.’
The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 at 11:00 ET, and sessions will be presented virtually throughout the day until approximately 18:00 ET. Participants are welcome to join for the entire day, or just for certain sessions.
Coaches and race directors can earn up to seven Continuing Education Units (CEUs) toward certification or recertification for attending (one CEU per session; coaches will complete a short exam after each). All sessions will be recorded.
“Over the summer, USA Triathlon hosted 10 community roundtables with individuals from around the sport who wanted to become more involved with our DEIA efforts,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO.
“A recurring theme was that there is a strong desire to help drive change in our sport, but that many people don’t know where to start or how to take specific actions in their communities.
“The ‘Together, We Thrive: Actions for Change’ Summit will equip attendees with tangible ideas and best practices to bring to their local communities – because it’s up to all of us to proactively build a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and access in multisport.”
The summit will feature success stories from individuals and groups who have implemented actions to promote DEIA in their local communities, including challenges faced along the way and action items for attendees to take with them into their own efforts.
The event aims to cover all areas of DEIA, with topics including:
- How to be a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) ally;
- Pparatriathlon engagement;
- Women in multisport;
- LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual) engagement and allyship;
- NCAA pathways;
- Creating a diverse and inclusive environment; and
- Breaking through barriers to entry and advancement in the sport.
The specific schedule and speaker line-up are in progress, and additional details will be announced as they are finalized.
The event is free and open to all members of the multisport community — a USA Triathlon membership is not required to attend.
In addition to the ‘Together, We Thrive: Actions for Change’ Summit, USA Triathlon also launched its overall ‘Together, We Thrive’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access initiative last month.
The newly formed USA Triathlon DEIA Advisory Council is providing guidance and perspective for the initiative to help shape USA Triathlon’s path forward, including the formation of specific DEIA principles.
USA Triathlon Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Advisory Council
- Henry Brandon — USA Triathlon Board of Directors Member, Private Equity Specialist
- Dr Carol Coram — USA Triathlon Certified Official, ITU Technical Official
- Dr Tekemia Dorsey — USA Triathlon Board of Directors Member, Founder and CEO of International Association of Black Triathletes
- Max Fennell — First African American US Professional Triathlete
- Gabriela Gallegos — USA Triathlon Board of Directors Member, Founder and CEO of Race El Paso
- Gwen Jorgensen — 2016 US Olympic Gold Medalist
- Chris Mosier — Team USA Athlete and Transgender Advocate
- Summer Rappaport — Tokyo US Olympic Team Qualifier
- Sadé Smith — Team USA Athlete, NCAA Student-Athlete
- Melissa Stockwell — 2016 US Paralympic Bronze Medalist
Pathways to Leadership — Education Scholarships
As part of its commitment to fostering pathways to leadership for underrepresented groups in multisport, USA Triathlon is offering education scholarships for Coach and Race Director Certifications.
Priority will be granted to individuals who identify as a member of an underrepresented racial or ethnic group; identify as female; fall within a low-income bracket; demonstrate financial need for a scholarship in order to pursue a coaching or race director certification; and/or will have the ability to enhance their multisport careers through certification.
