Why do I support others who have different identities and experiences than I do?

Refer to the bullet points below to gain a better understanding of the purpose of this theme and help you start thinking about how to create content.

• Focus is to encourage participants to critically think about the world around them. 
• Share how their own identity shapes the way they are perceived, but also how they perceive those around them.

Consider thinking of actions of allyship and advocacy. On Day 1 of the campaign (Tuesday, Oct. 17), the focus is for student-athletes to think critically about the importance of supporting those with different identities and experiences on their teams, in their athletic community and in their greater campus community. Consider thinking of this as why is allyship important to you? How does allyship uplift those with marginalized identities? How is that support demonstrated in your community or in your everyday life? Reflect on how supporting folks with different identities contributes to the goal of establishing more inclusive environments.

Example post: “Today marks Day 1 of the 6th annual Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign! We want to learn more about why you support those around you who have different backgrounds and experiences. How do our differences foster inclusive spaces on our campus? Use #NCAAInclusion to share your voice and to get your friends involved.”

Activity ideas

Power Flower activity

To understand why you support individuals with different identities, you must be aware of how your own identity shapes the way you navigate the world. Having a greater knowledge of your identity may help you to better understanding why it is important to understand folks around you from different walks of life. 

How to do this activity

• The inner petal represents the marginalized or minoritized group (i.e., race: African American; gender identity: nonbinary).
• The outer petal represents the dominant group (i.e., family structure: two-parent household, ability: able-bodied). 
• Identify which of your identities falls either in the marginalized group or the dominant group. If it is the marginalized group, color in the inner petal. If it is the dominant group, color in the outer petal. 
• For each blank petal, identify another identity that you believe is relevant to yourself, team or campus community. For example, use “sport,” as some sports are more popular than others, which may result in those athletes receiving more resources than others. (i.e., dominant group: football; marginalized group: men’s lacrosse OR dominant group: men’s basketball; marginalized group: women’s basketball).

• Perform this activity with a group of friends or teammates. Identify how those identities show up in the spaces that you enter and how that affects the way you show up. Think further on those with a different identity than your own and how they may be affected.

Define each letter of “allyship”

This is a creative way to think critically about the term “allyship.” Often, folks may use this term but are unable to describe what it truly encompasses. This activity will allow student-athletes to break down the word “allyship” by each letter to consider different words that influence the act of allyship. 

Perform this activity by getting someone in your athletics department to film yourself and seven other student-athletes. Each student-athlete will hold up a letter of “allyship” and pick a word that starts with that letter that contributes to what allyship encompasses. For example, “‘A’ stands for advocacy. As an advocate, I strive to advance the recognition of underrepresented communities around me.” 

Identities among our community 

Do this activity with your SAAC members and/or team. Ask everyone to pick a partner and talk for 60 seconds about as many things they have in common with each other. The items each pair choose cannot relate to your athletic community or institution (i.e., going to the same school, same major, on the same team, etc.). Think about what identities you may or may not share. Once each pair is done talking, join another pair to make a group of four and perform the same activity. Once the group is done, have each group share out what they have in common and what they do not have in common. Discuss how the identities/experiences have shaped you. This exercise will push participants to think about the identities they share/do not share with one another and highlight the significance of supporting those with different identities from our own.