BOSTON – As part of a new collaborative effort to prevent and address hate and bias in school sports, Attorney General Maura Healey partnered with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS), the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association (MSAA) hosted a conference called “Addressing Hate in School Sports,” which provided school administrators, athletic directors and staff, coaches and referees from across the state with programming and information on best practices for building positive environments and prevent, report and address hate incidents.
The daylong conference, held today at TD Garden, was planned in partnership with Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, ADL New England and other community organizations and featured representatives from the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Pride, Boston Renegades and New England Revolution. A keynote address was given by Boston Celtics legend Dana Barros.
“As a former student athlete and coach, I know that sports can be a powerful unifier,” said AG Healey. “Today we have gathered coaches, sports managers and educators who are committed to ensuring that young people can participate in school sports in a safe and inclusive environment. I am grateful to all of our community partners in this collaborative effort and look forward to seeing these best practices put into action.”
In recognition of the power of sports to drive social change and in response to an increase in reported hate-based and nefarious incidents across Massachusetts, the conference is part of an initiative the AG’s office launched with educational organizations earlier this year during a virtual call to action.
“Sports are an important part of school life, whether you’re an athlete or sitting in the stands,” said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Schools Jeffrey C. Riley. “Sports teams and events should be places where everyone feels welcome and respected, and I hope this conference will empower schools and athletic officials to build a more positive culture for our students.”
“There is no place for hate in our community, and our school athletic programs have an obligation to set those standards and expectations,” said Dianne Kelly, Revere Public School Superintendent and president of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. “The Addressing Hate in School Sports Conference brings together superintendents, principals, athletic directors and coaches focused on the goal of creating the individual and team culture that supports diversity in our collective communities.”
“The MIAA and MSAA are committed to providing the support and resources our members need to promote behavior that instills respect for self, team, opponents, officials, rules and the game itself,” said Robert Baldwin, CEO for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association. “We are excited to work with the Attorney General’s Office and other partners to harness the collective power of positive influence to help student-athletes and teacher-coaches serve as role models to empower ALL participants in the process of positive decision-making. When teacher-coaches, student-athletes, and game officials choose the privilege of participating in interscholastic athletics, they accept the responsibility of right action.”
Today’s event provided attendees with information from panelists on how to recognize bias and hate, learn best practices, hear experiences and lessons from school and athletic leaders in preventing and addressing hate, and how coaches, athletic staff and organizations can build positive and inclusive environments.
Following today’s event, regional trainings across the state will be conducted in 2023 by Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society to provide more in-depth training and equip school and athletic program leaders with the tools they need to empower and support their students and to prevent and address hate.
For more information on the AG’s initiative to address hate and bias in sports and to register your school for upcoming programs and trainings, click here.
Today’s conference was made possible in part by Director of Strategic Initiatives Elise Yannett, Chief of the Civil Rights Division Abigail Taylor, Director of the Juvenile Justice Unit Liza Hirsch, Advance Coordinator Katherine McGee and Executive Bureau Assistant Sage Scott, all of the Attorney General’s Office.
Dan Lebowitz, executive director of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University
“The Addressing Hate in School Sports Conference is an empowering, intentional and multi-intersectional gathering of government leaders, school administrators, athletic directors, coaches, staff, university partners, non-profit organizations and other committed stakeholders, each fully committed to creating a sustainable safety culture for high school youth and likewise for all those in and tangential to their communities, both on and off the field of play.The conference is the start of a large-scale initiative, including 12 regional trainings, that will allow schools across the country to participate in facilitated conversations , helping to ideate, innovate and implement how we can move beyond a present, too often characterized by hate and hurt, to a future that is a monument to health and healing, and further provides a path to become the best versions of our individual and collective selves We, at the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern, applauds Attorney General and Governor-elect Maura Healey for her unwavering commitment to the youth, families and communities of the Commonwealth. We remain grateful for her thought leadership and cutting edge vision in creating this important participatory platform for positive change agency and sustainable change. Additionally, we would like to thank the dedicated staff at the AGO and all the other partners who have worked tirelessly to make this event and initiative both possible and a top priority.”
Phil Fogelman, ADL New England Education Director
“Over the past few years, ADL has responded to countless incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry in middle and high school education. It is time to move from response to prevention. We are grateful to AG Healey’s leadership for calling to this important conference and empower coaches and administrators with strategies and tools to prevent and respond to incidents of bias and skills to promote healing and education in their communities in the aftermath.Everyone has the right to play without fear of hate or bias.”
“We are fortunate to live in a sports city with teams that understand the significant power and influence of their platforms and work so closely together on important initiatives despite being competitors in our market. At the Bruins, we continue to make our Hockey is For Everyone work a priority by providing educational resources and promoting inclusivity to drive out hate in sports. This is a work in progress as we strive to be the best we can be on and off the ice. Thanks to AG Healey and her office for putting together this fantastic event.”
Rich Gotham, Boston Celtics Team President
“The great Bill Russell once said that there is no such thing as other people’s children. We all have a responsibility to ensure that children coming up have the right to learn and play sport in an environment free of hate and discrimination. The Celtics are committed to doing our part and applaud the Attorney General’s office for launching this initiative.”
Sarah McKenna, Senior Vice President, Fan Services & Entertainment, Boston Red Sox
“The Boston Red Sox are proud to engage with the Attorney General’s office and with Massachusetts school administrators, athletic directors and educators on the critical topic of addressing hate in school sports. Professional sports clubs like ours have a powerful platform with the capacity to reach millions, and the Red Sox are committed to using our to promote respect, unity and inclusion and provide a safe and welcoming experience for all. A conference like today, and the regional trainings that follow, will allow participants and their colleagues to use their platforms in their own communities. We thank Attorney General Healey and her office for the opportunity to join all of Boston’s professional sports teams in sharing this message.”
New England Patriots and New England Revolution
“Congratulations to the co-hosts and organizers of today’s conference. Addressing hate, in any form at any level, is critical to eradicating it. Few things bring communities together like the common bond shared through sports. Regardless of whether as a spectator or participant, sports have a unique unifying power. We hope that all participants learn the importance of embracing differences, supporting each other, and working together to achieve success. The values learned through the lessons of teamwork at a young age can drive you to achieve great things in life. We applaud anyone who uses their sports platform to contribute to a team and make those around them better.”
Molly Goodwin, owner of the Boston Renegades
“At our core, the Boston Renegades are committed to fostering an inclusive sports environment where women of all backgrounds can thrive. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to play sports in a way that promotes growth. It’s incredible to see the collaboration between state leaders , professional sports teams, school administrators, and coaches working together to ensure that the youth of Massachusetts have a positive sports experience. Together, we must confront hate and continue to use sports as a platform that unites communities. We want thank Maura Healey and the Attorney General’s Office for their support of women’s professional athletics and their commitment to preventing and addressing incidents of hate and bias. Our collaboration with the AG’s office and the city’s educational institutions promotes a positive and inclusive athletic environment at all levels. We recognize the power of sports to drive social change and we are proud to be part of this initiative.”
Colleen Coyne, President of Boston Pride
