Sports bring people together! And on April 4-5 the sports community of Seattle is coming together for a two-day Summit to advance sports diversity within the area.
Compete Sports Diversity, the country’s only NGLCC-certified (National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) LGBTBE (Business Enterprise) full-service sports engagement organization, has partnered with the Seattle Seahawks and United Seattle Sports to host the 2022 Compete Sports Diversity Summit at Lumen Field.
“What makes this Summit so special,” said Compete CEO, Eric Carlyle, SDLT, “Is that we will have professional sports organizations on stage engaging with recreational sports leaders and other LGBTQ+ community leaders from around the Seattle area. Knowing the power of a community that listens and then works together, we provide opportunities for stakeholders to both hear and be heard.”
Joining Compete and the Seahawks is United Sports Seattle. “We are excited to be partnering with Compete Sports Diversity and the Seattle Seahawks on the Diversity Summit one of our first programs,” said Brian Hawker, SDL, United Sports Seattle’s managing director. “Whether it’s at the professional, Olympic, college, adult recreational athlete or a youth program level, there is a need to further the discussion of diversity and inclusion.”
Based on Compete’s ongoing feedback, this event is part networking, part education plus a call to action. The Summit includes important panel and roundtable discussions that focus on sports diversity opportunities, needs, connections and programming available locally as well as nationally. Participants will leave the Summit armed with steps they can take from day one to further sports diversity within their local communities, plus a new network of like-minded people.
“The Seahawks are proud to host the Complete Sports Diversity Summit and participate in meaningful conversations around furthering diversity and inclusion in sports,” said Karen Wilkins-Mickey, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Seattle Seahawks. “We look forward to coming together as a Seattle sports community to listen and learn together as we seek to advance equity in sports.”
Schedule at a Glance
Sunday, April 3,
5-7 PM
PRE-SUMMIT Kickoff Event
Emerald City Softball Association and POCAAN
Comeback Seattle
Monday, April 4, ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
8:30 AM-3 PM
Summit at Lumen Field
Monday, April 4, ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
5-7 PM
Seattle Seahawks Welcome Reception
Embassy Suites Pioneer Hill
Tuesday April 5, ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
9 AM-12:30 PM
Summit at Lumen Field
Scheduled speakers include John Deffee, SDLT, commissioner of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association (NAGAAA) [softball], Shigeo Iwamiya, SDLT, commissioner of the National Gay Flag Football Association (NGFFL), Connor Shane, SDLT, director of national events for USA Racquetball and Carlee Hoover, SDL, commissioner of Rainbow City Softball.
Attendees will have the option of earning a Sports Diversity Leader (SDL) or SDLT (Travel) designation and DEI certificate at the Summit. The certificate and designation are awarded by Compete Sports Diversity.
Board members and athletes from Cheer Seattle, Emerald City Softball Association and Rainbow City Softball, among others will also participate.
Additional professional, college, and recreational sports partners to be announced soon.
Compete Sports Diversity is honored to partner with the Seattle Seahawks and United Sports Seattle to bring together a variety of stakeholders within the Seattle sports community and other interested parties with the objective of advancing our IDEAL Principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity/Equality Acceptance and Leadership.
Please join us. Registration information can be found at: www.competediversitysummit.com
#iCompete #SportsDiversity #Compete #Seahawks
