Mission Statement
The mission of the DEIC is to foster diversity among member schools, athletic administrators, coaches and student-athletes by promoting inclusiveness, awareness, and acceptance. The focus is to celebrate all differences by creating associations that are welcoming and engaging for all.
History
In February 2014, the Minority Inclusion Plan (MIP) was approved by the MIAA and MSSAA Board of Directors. MIP, as presented by Executive Director Bill Gaine to the Board of Directors had two major components:
- Recruit staff to be more diverse and representative of those served by the organizations.
- Restructure and revisit the MSSAA/MIAA plan and policies for minority inclusion throughout all areas of governance.
Since MIP’s inception, the task has been to build an organization where diversity and inclusion are an important part of our culture and who we are.
In the Fall 2016, as a direct response to the Minority Inclusion Plan (MIP), the MSAA and MIAA established the first ever Inclusion Committee. The Inclusion Committee was comprised of a variety of individuals and community partners. Since renamed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), the DEIC strives to redefine what DEI means, how schools practice, monitor, and evaluate DEI programs and services, and to provide DEI leadership trainings to increase the capacity to meet the DEI needs across the state. For the MSAA/MIAA memberships, it means creating an opportunity for all students to participate in interscholastic athletics.
The MSAA/MIAA hosted its first Inclusion Symposium at our Franklin headquarters in May 2017. The first Inclusion Summit for students was held at Holy Cross in January 2018.
Goal
- To promote diversity and encourage participation, interaction, and understanding in our ever-increasing diverse society.
- To make leadership roles within the MSAA/MIAA accessible to all athletic directors, coaches, and students, including those who are racially, ethnically, culturally diverse, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities.
- To challenge the members of the association to leverage differences as strengths. Balance DEI initiatives and sports initiatives
- To promote partnerships to assist in creating and implementing strategies that will promote our mission of inclusiveness, awareness, and acceptance.
- Provide professional learning programming, resources which schools can access and utilize to help create a more inclusive space for students in their schools and communities.
Resource Impact
The MSAA/MIAA DEI committee is committed to promoting social inclusion and attitudes of nondiscrimination towards cultures, gender, race, disabilities, sexual orientation and religion. Massachusetts has nation leading programs in support of LGBTQ individuals, Special Olympics, Unified Sports and Para Sports inclusion integrated with MSAA/MIAA sports and Educational Athletics programs. For example, the MSAA/MIAA and Special Olympics are partners in Unified Track and Field as well as Unified Basketball. Approximately 100 schools participate in Unified Track and Field and over 80 schools participate in Unified Basketball. We are looking to grow all inclusion programs and be the model for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that other state associations can emulate.
DEI Programs
The MSAA/MIAA host two annual events that address current topics in racial and ethnic diversity, gender equity, inclusion of LGBTQ students, coaches and administrators, and inclusion of students, coaches and administrators who have disabilities.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit
The initial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit was hosted in January 2018 at the College of the Holy Cross and reached more than 125 middle and high school students. Since that time, the program has grown to host over 300 student and adult attendees from across the state.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Symposium
Following the development of the DEI committee in 2016, The MSAA/MIAA hosted its first Inclusion Symposium in May 2017, which reached more than 80 school administrators, athletic directors, teachers, coaches and school personnel. Since that time, the program has continued to grow in size and is conducted annually for school staff members.
DEI Committee Members
Michael Rubin – Liaison- MSAA/MIAA Assistant Director
Ashley Bailey-O’Keefe – Director of DEI. Collegiate Charter School of Lowell
Dr. Carrol Blake – Founder & President, Blake Associates
Mackenson Charles – Black economic Council MA
Thomas Claiborne – Athletic Director, Catholic Memorial
Rapheal Dowdye - Athletic Director, Taunton High School
Steve Martin – Assistant Principal, Woburn High School
Joel Giacobozzi – Principal, Watertown High School
Patricia Gonzalez – Director of Athletics, Newton South HS (Co-Chair)
Steve Kendall – Director of Athletics, Ayer Shirley Regional School District
Christopher LaBreck – Principal, Chocksett Middle School
Landon Callahan – Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students
Nampeera Lugira – Principal, Academy of the Pacific Rim
Kathy Lutz – Unified Sports Manager, Special Olympics MA
Ted McCarthy – Principal, Sutton Memorial HS (Chair)
Gwen Nauls – Guidance Counselor, Southeastern RVT High School
Lynsey Page – Principal, Topsfield Vocational Academy
Jeff Perrotti – Founding Director, DESE Safe Schools for LGBTQ Students
Kevin Ross – Boston Supervisor, Becoming a Man (BAM)
Stephanie Sibley – Regional Principal, Boston Public School
Henry Turner – Principal, Newton North High School
Joseph Walsh – President, Adaptive Sports New England
Resources
Upcoming Events
| Friday, January 17, 2025 | 8th Annual MSAA/MIAA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit Leading With Courage | College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA |
| Friday, March 7, 2025 | Connections Conference 2025 Rise up! Empowering Youth Voices for a Better Tomorrow | Clark University Worcester, MA |
| Friday, May 2, 2025 | 8th Annual MSAA/MIAA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium Leading With Courage | MSAA Office in Franklin |
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