Buffs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts trending up

9 DAYS TO GIVING DAY??

One of our Giving Day goals is to raise $50,000 for our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives. Click the link below to learn about how you can directly support our 350+ student-athletes!

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— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) November 21, 2021

With the hire of Associate AD for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion DaWon Baker, CU Athletics pressed forward on an increased emphasis and focus on the department's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Since May 2021, the DEI team has been hard at work preparing a number of opportunities for CU Athletic student-athletes, staff, coaches and fans. In addition to Baker, the DEI team also hired Eriana Henderson, a former track and field athlete, and Diandra Walker, a McLendon Future Leader, to help bolster the DEI efforts.

"Eriana and Diandra have helped us tremendously," said Baker. "Both are getting the experience necessary to propel themselves into a career in college athletics. They are also both challenging us to be better for our student-athletes and staff everyday."

For Walker, the opportunity to join the DEI team has led to further realization in her commitment to DEI, both professionally and personally. Previously, she worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee in their Multicultural Student Life office. Working with college students, Walker recognized the gaps in support that students of Color need to be successful in college. Now working in the athletic department at CU and a McLendon Future Leader, she is excited for the opportunity to work with all student-athletes to further the message of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in their own lives.

"I think my passion has always been sports but after work and personal experiences, being able to blend sports and DEI has not only challenged me to grow further as a professional but also reflect on my own personal growth and how I can continue to learn and strive in the position I am in."

Since May, the DEI team has grown from 0 to 3, and has added on multiple projects, all aiming to ensure CU Athletics continues to be an inclusive environment for all. The DEI team has been working to meet with multiple teams and departments, gathering information for a new strategic plan for DEI in CU Athletics, which will serve as a roadmap of CU Athletics DEI efforts for years to come. The DEI team has put their focus on engaging stakeholders, serving student-athlete, while maintaining the educational opportunities the staff has grown accustomed to.

In June 2020, CU Athletics participated in Denver's Five Points Juneteenth parade. Athletics plans to make this an annual endeavor, while expanding to other heritage and celebratory cultural events.

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CU Athletics has committed to not just learning about the day, but participating in the education and celebration of Juneteenth.

More on The Buffs' #Juneteenth efforts ??
— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) June 19, 2021

Throughout 2021, CU Athletics has hosted a number of DEI events, including the Búfalos Fiesta hosted by CUnited Student-Athletes in honor of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, a Lunch and Learn about Cultural Appropriation vs Appreciation and Native American Mascots in Sports, and will host a dialogue about Colin Kaepernick's recent Netflix special, In Black and White. The dialogues provide the staff the opportunity to learn, while exploring different experiences and perspectives other than their own. Lastly, CU Athletics participated in the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign, spotlighting the DEI initiatives and opportunities staff and student-athletes have been a part of at CU and beyond.

#ForeverBuffs are using what they learned during their time at CU to champion change in their communities today.

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— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) October 20, 2021

CUnited's student-athletes hosted "Búfalos Fiesta" last week to wrap up Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month ?? pic.twitter.com/0Wz8OjZUWt
— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) October 19, 2021

In addition to the educational programming for staff and coaches, student-athletes have been working diligently to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded into the student-athlete experience. The DEI team expanded CUnited, a racial and social justice task force founded in 2020, and expanded the group for more student-athletes to join. The group helps plan and host DEI events, similar to the staff, and also have student-athlete reps that work with staff and coaches to ensure that the staff and student-athlete DEI efforts are aligned. Track and field athlete Ian Gilmore, who serves as one of the CUnited student-athlete reps, believes that DEI is vital to the student-athlete experience. "DEI is important to the student-athlete experience because it is important for us to learn about the components that come with DEI," said Gilmore. "There are many different people from all over the world in our athletic department and many of them have different upbringings, and have experienced different cultures." Gilmore has also seen an uptick in activity around DEI since his time on campus. "I have noticed that there have been more meetings about DEI hosted. It's also excites me that more people are interested in DEI and want to learn more about what it is." Gilmore also mentioned that he has noticed that there has been more effort put in by the staff for DEI.

Gilmore was nominated as a representative by his former teammate, Eriana Henderson. Henderson finished her illustrious track career this summer, capping her CU career with a chance to run in the 2020 Olympic Trials. Since finishing, this new role has presented her with a different type of challenge, and a different type of growth. "I am getting the chance to merge two of my most important passions: DEI and Sports. Retiring from my sport has been a hard transition but getting the chance to touch our student athletes and staff and better their experience has been extremely fulfilling and making my transition worth it," said Henderson. The role has challenged Henderson in many ways. "I have had the opportunity to empower student-athletes to use their voice to invoke change and partnered with all of the right people and organizations on campus to help drive the message forward."

Henderson's work has not gone unnoticed, she recently served as a panelist for CU's CLIMB Diversity and Inclusion Summit to speak on HER experience here at CU as a student-athlete and now as a DEI staff member. For Henderson, she hopes the evolution of her identity continues to grow and evolve. "I have jumped head first into this role and I cannot wait to see how much more I will learn and how we as a department will continue to grow and evolve."

CU's commitment to DEI has been visible over the past 6 months. As CU transitions to the Winter and Fall seasons, the DEI team will be completing the strategic plan for athletics. You will also see DEI integration into the gameday experience, showing fans and supporters how to maintain an inclusive environment for all. You can help bolster CU Athletics DEI efforts by visiting the giving page here.

Colorado University Athletics

Buffs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts trending up

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