Corey Douglas and Jaide Hinds-Clarke, members of the VCU Center for Sport Leadership class of 2021, have been selected for the Atlantic 10 Conference’s newly formed Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
The commission’s objectives include increasing accountability in normalizing anti-racist behaviors, taking advantage of opportunities to make a stand where necessary to support equity and social justice, an increase education on cultural expectations, conduct and social interactions and support for addressing hiring practices. Forming partnerships and creating strategic alliances that will help achieve these goals will also be part of the charge of the commission.
“I am honored and humbled to have been named to this Commission – it means a lot,” said Hinds-Clarke. I believe the collective commitment of each member organization shows that the A-10 wants to create actionable change, and I am beyond excited to be a part of that.”
“I am very excited to be a part of the A-10 Commission,” Douglas added. “I am looking forward to working with the other members as we try to educate ourselves and push society forward on social and racial issues.”
The commission is being co-chaired by Duquesne University president Kenneth Gormley and La Salle Athletic Director Brian Baptiste, and will consist of three representatives from each member institution. The commission is composed of a diverse representation from A-10 governance groups, current and former student-athletes and coaches, as well academic and university personnel and subject matter experts. Education and training, advocacy and activism, structure and accountability will be the focus of the commission’s work.
Together, the commission will work closely with groups within the Atlantic 10 that have formed in the wake of the social unrest in 2020, including Athletes Driving Change (A-10 women’s basketball student-athletes) and Connecting for Change (established by A-10 men’s basketball assistant coaches).
It will also inventory all campus efforts related to racial and social justices programs with the goal of expanding the reach and impact to the entire A-10 footprint. Building out our individual foundations can only empower and increase participation in the political process, social practices and cultural excellence. The commission’s first initiative is co-sponsoring a symposium hosted by Duquesne University on Thursday, Oct. 15 with Jim Rooney and N. Jeremi Duru on the NFL’s Rooney Rule, and its practical application to higher education and intercollegiate athletics. More information on the symposium will be made public closer to the event.
Douglas and Hinds-Clarke earned their undergraduate degrees from VCU and the University of Richmond respectively as basketball student-athletes. Douglas is currently preparing for his third season on the VCU men’s basketball team while Hinds-Clarke works as a graduate assistant with the Richmond women’s basketball program.
