gender equality Archives - Page 2 of 3

Advancing Women into Leadership Positions in Sport

Posted: June 13, 2019 by Brooke McMillan

In June of 2019, Athletes for Hope Global Director of Gender Equality, Dr. Ashleigh Huffman, will travel to Brussels to collaborate on a timely new research and mentorship project co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union to advance women into decision-making positions in sport.

Launched by BeInnovactiv Founder, Carole Ponchon of France, and Carole Bretteville, the SWinG project is designed to provide baseline data on the current state of women in leadership positions within sport and to propose creative new solutions to close the gender gap. The intended result: more diversity in decision-making roles.

“Women make up 51% of the population and less than 5% of the executive seats in Fortune 500 companies. As a female athlete, I am interested in the same gendered data within sport governance. If we want to make sport more inclusive and accessible, while also increasing talent and product, we need diverse thinking at the decision-making table. Sport is too important for the next generation to leave half the world’s brainpower out of the conversation.”

The SWinG project is an ambitious undertaking, led by the French Federation for Company Sport, to create data points on leadership, election, board membership, and promotion procedures within the often-veiled world of sport governance.

The research will inform new solutions, one of which includes a newly developed mentorship program designed to launch in the fall of 2019. Women who participate in the mentorship program will be given an inside look at Executive Board membership and primed with skills, knowledge, and motivation to assume an executive seat within sport organizations.

“Through our unique partners in the United States and Europe, I am confident that we have the right set of skills, experiences and willingness in the room to identify and nurture female emerging leaders and empower them to become real actors of change in the sport and physical activities sector. We know everyone has a role to play and we will not achieve anything alone. That’s the reason this project calls for joint and collaborative action.” said Carole Ponchon, SWinG project leader.

The second gathering of the SWinG cohort will take place June 24 in Belgium. Program partners include: Athletes for Hope (US), the European Federation for Company Sport (FR), the European Hockey Federation (BE), ENGSO Youth (HU), Les Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales (FR), the Professional Women’s Network (FR), the Società Sportiva Lazio (IT), the Sport Club Partizan Skofja Loka (SL) and the University of Copenhagen (DK). This collaboration with Athletes for Hope marks the first time in Erasmus+ program history that a US organization is an official partner of a sports project.

Visit the project website to know more: www.gamechangeher.org

One Nation. One Team.

Posted: June 7, 2019 by Brooke McMillan

It’s World Cup time and I’m so excited to cheer on Team USA! My name is Megan Oyster and I am a professional women’s soccer player for the Seattle Reign and in the off-season, an athlete ambassador for Athletes for Hope. I feel so lucky to cheer on this year’s national team. I’ve been fortunate enough to share the field with the majority of this 23-player squad and I can tell you first hand, it’s filled with absolute studs.

These women are the types of players that you love as teammates but can’t stand playing against. They are the ones your coach creates entire PowerPoints about filled with their strengths and wishes you the best of luck defending. As we inch closer to kickoff, I wanted to tell you a little more about the dedication, resilience, and tenacity of these incredible players from my perspective – as a teammate.

Let’s start with Sam Mewis. She was my college teammate and one of the main reasons our team at UCLA was so successful. Her strengths are endless and it’s been evident in the recent World Cup send-off series where she’s scored three goals in three games. One of Sam’s biggest assets is her long-range shot. She can shoot from anywhere and everywhere. When we were at UCLA, Sam would always gather up balls after practice and shoot from a variety of angles and distances, one ball after another, rep after rep. Now when I see Sam rip a bomb from 30 yards out in the same spots she practiced, I’m not surprised at all and I also can’t stop cheering. She has earned each and every one of those goals.

Megan Rapinoe is another major weapon for the U.S. and is also my current teammate with Reign FC in the NWSL. She is a free-kick master and I can assure you that did not just happen by chance. After training, while everyone else is cooling down, “Pinoe” will set up dummies and challenge our coaches to a free-kick competition. She hits unreal benders, curved and dipping shots, and lasers to the corner. She tries it all. Sometimes the ball will sail high above the goal making the rest of laugh, but when it comes time to take those game-changing free kicks, she’s the one drilling it into the back of the net.

Lastly, I’m so happy to see Ali Krieger on the squad. She’s a fan favorite and someone I had the opportunity to play with my first year in the NWSL with the Washington Spirit. I was a true rookie and doing my best to learn how to be a professional. Thanks to Ali’s leadership, I had the best example to show me the ropes. She cared about every single detail of training. The perfect texture of a pass, how to drive a ball smoothly on the grass, the tempo of play, how to focus during stretching, how to take care of your body before and after training, even how one should stand when the coach is talking. She does it all, every second of every day. When I see Krieger about to go 1v1 with the some of the best forwards in the world, I think to myself, this forward has no chance.

Needless to say, these women are more than ready for the challenge ahead. The competition is going to be the best yet and the games are going to be thrilling to watch. I’m deeply inspired by all of the hard work that these players have put in to prepare for this opportunity and I can’t wait to watch it all pay off!

And thank you Athletes for Hope for always cheering on women’s soccer and for uniting us in community service! The real MVPs!

By Reign FC Defender, Megan Oyster

Gear for Girls

Posted: March 25, 2019 Updated: September 21, 2021 by Brooke McMillan

Have some gently used basketball shoes you don’t wear anymore or a soccer ball in the garage not getting any love? Maybe you play for a professional or club team that just changed regulation sizes, brands, or received new jerseys and don’t know what to do with the old ones? We have the solution!

At AFH, we’re partnering with sports distribution centers throughout the US to ensure that girls everywhere have the gear they need to play. Here’s what we’re asking you to do:

Visit our website for a listing of places to mail your gear. Please reach out to us if you have any questions!

AFH Staff Highlight: Taylor Ancell

Posted: March 15, 2019 Updated: March 14, 2019 by Brooke McMillan

Inspired by legendary athletes such as Athletes for Hope Founder, Mia Hamm, Taylor Ancell has made AFH her home for the past three years. In her role as Athlete Coordinator, Taylor works with professional and Olympic athletes and connects them with various social causes and platforms that they are passionate about. Additionally, she has led our gender equality initiative in both Kenya and Tanzania and looks forward to continuing this type of work as AFH broadens its global footprint! We sat down with Taylor to ask her what she loves most about working at AFH.

What brought you to AFH?
Sports has always played a meaningful and significant role in my life. I’m competitive by nature and attribute much of who I am to the lessons I learned through sports – teamwork, resilience and commitment just to name a few. It was with this passion that I started my career in the field of sports broadcasting at both the Washington D.C. ABC affiliate as well as NBC Sports Washington. In 2016, I decided to shift gears and landed at AFH as a result of my desire to capitalize on the tremendous power that sports has to impact society for the better. Three years later, and I’m reminded of that each and every day when I get to work with athletes eager to give back and make a difference in their community.

What is Your Favorite Part About Working at AFH
There are so many incredible elements about working at AFH, it’s hard to pick just one! We all wear many hats so no two days are the same which keeps things interesting and forces you to stay on your toes. I’m particularly passionate about gender equality so our work in that space is one that is personal and meaningful to me. Additionally, I love getting to work directly with athletes that have diverse interests but all share the common desire to better their communities. I recently got an email from a teacher following a professional athlete visit that read in part, “My kids are still talking about it a week later. They were talking about how cool it was to meet a professional athlete and how they were telling each other their dreams. We continue to reference it when we talk about behavior and if it is going to help us reach those dreams. The speaker made my kids feel incredibly comfortable and also valued as individuals.” Hearing about the profound impact that athletes have had on an organization just by simply showing up is a feeling that is deeply humbling and rewarding for all!

What is Your Favorite AFH Moment
My favorite moment at AFH thus far has been traveling to Africa to work on an initiative around gender equality. While there, we were able to meet with prominent athletes that felt compelled to use their platforms to move the needle on this critical cause. We also had the opportunity to link up with a couple of local organizations that use sport as a vehicle for social change. During one particular site visit in a slum of Kenya, I noticed that there were soccer balls lying around made of lumped up garbage and string. There’s a great story behind it that can be found here, but it was a simple reminder that sometimes all it takes to unite, empower and uplift an entire community is a ball. They must’ve caught me eyeing them because they insisted I take one with me. I gladly obliged, and to this day one of those balls sits directly across from my desk and serves as a daily reminder of the power that sports has to bring people together from all different backgrounds.

Sign Up For Female Empowerment Virtual Visits

Posted: March 14, 2019 by Brooke McMillan

Are you a female athlete or former athlete that loves kids and wants to inspire them to be their very best but has a schedule that doesn’t allow for consistent school or after-school visits? You’re in luck! Through our virtual visit option, you can Skype into classrooms around the world, offering your story as a source of inspiration and wisdom for the next generation.

Help us promote messages of self-esteem, positive body image, confidence, and health among young people by signing up today. We’ll pair you with a school, send you information about the session, and be available to answer any questions you might have about the experience. By offering this option, we aim to bridge busy schedules with hard to reach places and ensure all kids can meet their heroes and sheroes. Thanks for being part of the team!

Sign Up For The Gender Equality Power Pack

Posted: March 8, 2019 Updated: March 8, 2019 by Brooke McMillan

Happy International Women’s Day! Help us celebrate at Athletes for Hope by signing up for our Gender Equality Power Pack and inviting a friend to do the same!

What is the Gender Equality Power Pack?
The Pack is an email Athletes for Hope will send to your inbox every month and will be loaded with things you can use to fuel your next 30 days. Topics will include upcoming events, must-see videos, inspirational quotes, cool Insta-story images, and much, much more. This is more than just a newsletter, this is information and inspiration delivered just for you!

Who is the Gender Equality Power Pack For?
This monthly dose of empowerment is for anyone interested in the intersection between gender equality and sports. We invite everyone to sign up regardless of gender!

How Do I Sign Up For The Gender Equality Power Pack?
It’s easy! Just click here to sign up to receive monthly information.

There’s no time like the present to get in the game! Let’s grow the team together!