WA1T to Launch Innovative Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program

Bowling Green, Ohio We Are One Team (WA1T), an initiative to promote social justice through sport at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), is pleased to announce the launch of the "WA1T Team Player Program for Diversity and Inclusion Leadership," an innovative certificate program designed specifically for student-athletes to gain inclusive leadership skills. The year-long program, developed by We Are One Team (WA1T) in collaboration with BGSU's Center for Leadership and Office of Multicultural Affairs, will consist of nine sessions that provide student-athletes with an opportunity to learn what it means to be an inclusive leader on their teams and in the community.

When members of We Are One Team (WA1T) came up with the idea for a certificate program, they reached out to the athletics department, the Center for Leadership, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs to pitch their idea. It was welcomed with open arms, and a unique partnership was formed that led to the development of the WA1T Team Player Program.

Chet Hesson, Assistant AD for Academics and Student Services, said, "We are thankful for We Are One Team (WA1T), the Center for Leadership, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs to create a program that provides student-athletes with an opportunity to gain inclusive leadership skills and that considers their unique experience as student-athletes. We strongly believe in the power of sport to promote diversity and inclusion, and many of our athletes are viewed as leaders on campus. If we can strengthen our athlete's inclusive leadership skills, we can make both the athletic community and BGSU as a whole more inclusive."

The nine sessions in the program cover a variety of topics, including the following:

My Game Plan: Who am I … and who do I want to be?
Player to Player: Different Perspectives
Get the Ball Rolling: Intercultural Communication & Awareness
First Half: Block Microaggressions and Tackle Social Norms
Second Half: Block Microaggressions and Tackle Social Norms
Know the Hurdles: Media Literacy
Level the Playing Field: Power and Privilege
Cover all the Bases: Inclusive Team Environments
Go the Distance: Social Justice and You

Yannick Kluch, founder of We Are One Team (WA1T), sees the WA1T Team Player Program as a great way for the initiative to continue its award-winning diversity and inclusion work at BGSU.

"While We Are One Team (WA1T) is open to anyone in our community and not just focused on athletes, we do rely heavily on our BGSU student-athletes to support our cause, spread the word, and represent the values of diversity of inclusion. This program is yet another way for us to stand out on a national level and position We Are One Team (WA1T) and BGSU as national leaders for innovative diversity and inclusion work," Kluch says.

"This program is a competency-based leadership certificate focused on helping participants develop attitudes, knowledge, and skills that are essential to be inclusive leaders in an increasingly diverse world. The program contributes to a positive dialogue and social justice, diversity, and inclusion at BGSU and beyond. We are excited to share the program with BGSU's student-athletes," said Megan Arnold, Coordinator for Student Engagement and Outreach in the Office of the Dean of Students at BGSU.

The first session of the program will be held on Sept. 24 and 22 BGSU student-athletes from eleven out of the 18 BGSU varsity sports will be part of the inaugural cohort of WA1T Team Players – including athletes from BGSU football, men's hockey, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, gymnastics, and swim and dive.

"I think this program is important because there aren't many opportunities to prepare student-athletes for inclusive leadership in this type of environment," says Mandy Washko, the Vice President of We Are One Team (WA1T) and a member of this year's cohort for the WA1T Team Player Program. "A unique group of student-athletes learning how to be great leaders is a powerful thing, especially with diversity and inclusion being so critical in today's world. It shows that we know there are areas to improve in, and we are all willing to do that."

About We Are One Team (WA1T)
We Are One Team (WA1T) is an initiative to promote diversity, inclusion, and social justice at BGSU and in the surrounding community. The group is guided by four core goals centered around using sport as an avenue for social change. The first goal is to use sport to create a dialogue about social justice issues. The second goal is to use sport to promote friendship between stereotyped groups on campus. We Are One Team (WA1T)'s third goal is to use sport to facilitate an environment that values inclusion, diversity, and acceptance. Finally, the initiative aims to use sport to create a strong network of partners, collaborators, and supporters who work together to create positive social change at BGSU and beyond. In 2017, We Are One Team (WA1T) was honored with the prestigious NCAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion. For more information on We Are One Team (WA1T) visit: https://www.bgsu.edu/WeAreOneTeam-BG.html

Contact Information:
Yannick Kluch | We Are One Team (WA1T) Founder & President | ykluch@bgsu.edu
Chet Hesson | Assistant AD for Academics & Student Services | chesson@bgsu.edu

WA1T Team Player Cohort 2017-2018

Elisa Baeron | Women's Soccer
Nilijah Ballew | Football
Madeline Cole | Women's Basketball
Kathleen Duwve | Women's Soccer
Jovannah East | Gymnastics
Monica Florez | Women's Soccer
Ethan Good | Men's Basketball
Alexandra Johnston | Gymnastics
Maureen Kennedy | Women's Soccer
Talisa Lemke | Swim & Dive
Macie Linne | Volleyball
India McPeak | Gymnastics
Matthew Meier | Ice Hockey
Anthony Mwembia | Men's Soccer
Chris Pohlkamp | Ice Hockey
Kayla Rose | Gymnastics
Ayumi Sasaki | Tennis
Elodie Schreiber | Swim & Dive
Gabriel Skrobot | Football
Marharita-Sophia Tavpash | Tennis
Amanda Washko | Swim & Dive

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