The Advancement of Black In Sports (ABIS) virtual summit titled “Georgia Votes: Let’s Do It Again” didn’t disappoint. The event was held over Zoom on Monday, December 28.
This was another positive program by ABIS that advocates and promotes equitable hiring practices, economic opportunities, increased awareness of Black history education, protections and legislation for coaches, athletes, and voter engagement.
ABIS asks the question “Do You See What We See” by putting a spotlight on inequitable practices that impede the advancement of Blacks in Sports. Leaders of ABIS have acknowledged that for systemic racism and inequitable institutional practices to change, institutional policies and practices, federal, and state legislation must change.
In America, your ‘Vote’ is your voice and ABIS joins others in Get Out To Vote campaigns with a particular slant towards persons connected to sports.
Each of the two sessions was engaging and encouraging, leaving attendees with plenty of positive takeaways and motivational messages to make a difference in their communities. The purpose of the summit was to focus and increase awareness on the significance of the upcoming Senate election runoff in Georgia on January 5.
The ramifications of the votes go beyond Georgia’s borders because these races will determine the balance of power in Washington, D.C. The same voters who went to the poll in record numbers in November are being encouraged to exercise their right to vote again. ABIS also wanted to speak directly to athletic administrators, coaches, and athletes at all levels across the state of Georgia.
On January 5, 2021, all eyes will be on Georgia.
In one of the runoff races, Senator David Perdue will compete against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff. Perdue has served as a senator for Georgia since 2015. In the other runoff race, Senator Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in 2019 after her predecessor, Johnny Isakson, resigned from office because of health issues, will face Democrat Raphael Warnock.
The energetic and knowledgeable panelists spoke with passion, poise, and purpose. Brown sang before delivering her opening remarks. The summit engaged coaches, athletes, administrators, professionals, and communities of Georgia.
The first panel moderated by sports reporter Tabitha Turner was titled “The Importance of the Coach and Millennial Athlete Voice & Vote.” The panelists were Kayla Smith, Jordan Usher, and Eric Reveno.
Smith is a member of the University of Georgia track-and-field program, she was a First Team Outdoor All-American in the pole vault in 2017. Usher competes for the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team. Reveno is an associate head coach for Georgia Tech.
Attendees were reminded that changing your habits, changes the world and voting is the cornerstone of America. Inclusion, supporting college athletes, accountability, and responsibility were all discussed during this session.
Suggestions for getting millennials civically engaged included being creative on social media, using their platform to make information more digestible, and retweeting pertinent voting information.
The second panel titled “The Importance of your Vote — ‘What’s at Stake’ moderated by Dr. Deborah Stroman included Chuck D, Ray Allen, Latosha Brown, and Gerard Griggs.
Chuck D is an iconic rapper and activist. Allen is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and a two-time NBA champion. Griggs is an Atlanta-based attorney who mentioned C.T. Vivian and John Lewis as mentors. Brown is the co-founder of Black Voters Matters.
Here are some of the key quotes shared during this panel.
Allen: “Step in the room and make noise. Don’t mince words, don’t worry about what people say. You belong everywhere you go. ‘A man has to be willing to plant a tree for whose shade he may never sit under.”
Brown: “Your gift will make room for you. We see athletes operate in their gifts, which provide power, privilege, and purpose. You can’t be afraid to own it. Athletes are ambassadors. Step into that role of leadership.”
Chuck D: “The world is watching. Anything that seems small has real big ramifications. Age is an excuse that none of us can use. Instead of wishing for it to happen, make it happen. Voting is as important as washing up in the morning.”
Griggs: “Allow your gifts to get you in the room to make a profound change for your community. Speak truth to power, build your mind, and understand the historic moment you are in.”
The summit was an opportunity to continue critical conversations, share the issues at the heart of the runoff, and help those in the state make an informed decision and further bolster political influence. This recent election showcased a strength in unity that hadn’t been witnessed before in Georgia.
Disclaimer for Voting Initiatives and/or Events
The Advancement of Blacks in Sports, Inc. (A.B.I.S.) is a non-political, non-partisan organization that cannot endorse or oppose candidates for elective office or political parties and refrains from promoting one political party over another. Our goal for these upcoming elections is to ensure, facilitate, and champion voter participation.
ABOUT ABIS: Founder by Gary Charles, New York’s Godfather of Grassroots Basketball fostered a partnership with notable African Americans and social justice activists and allies to launch Advancement of Blacks in Sports, Inc. (ABIS), on September 2, 2020. ABIS is a non-profit organization with a mission to boldly advocate for a culture of equity and inclusion that results in the advancement of racial, economic, and social justice for Blacks in sports. For more see www.weareabisevents.org.
ABOUT ROB KNOX: Rob Knox is currently the Associate Athletic Director of Strategic Communications at UNC Greensboro (UNCG) and a CoSIDA past president. An award-winning communications professional, Knox has over 20-years of experience in several sectors of the media including sports information, newspapers, and television. A member of The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Athletics Hall of Fame, graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute, and 2011 CoSIDA Rising Star Award winner, Knox is one of the most influential, passionate, and accomplished athletic communications professionals in the country.
