Boston Scores’ Post

Innovation is one of my core beliefs. In the realm of sports—baseball for our boys and tennis for our girls—we see its power to transform lives. For Black youth, being FIRST and BEST isn't just about athletic performance—it's about pushing boundaries, setting new standards, and redefining what's possible both on and off the field. At LEAD Center For Youth, we use our sports-based youth development methodology to build essential social-emotional learning capacities, like self-efficacy. Through baseball and tennis, we foster athletic growth while also increasing academic self-efficacy. Our participants learn that the discipline, focus, and resilience they develop in sports directly translate to the classroom and beyond. It's not enough to follow; we lead the way, forging new paths and raising the standard. For us, FIRST means: Forging new paths 🔨 Inspiring greatness 🌟 Raising the standard 📈 Shaping the future 🌍 Thriving against all odds 🏆 By being innovative, we empower our young men and women to be trailblazers in every aspect of their lives. Photo by iSmooth LLC.

"By the age of 25, I didn't see the point in getting involved in public OR community projects and wanted to focus solely on business. But just five years later, I was leading a community of over 5,000 female entrepreneurs, launching IT training for 11,000 children, and mentoring 85 young professionals," shares Alina Shcherbyna, head of STEM IS FEM and the Generation UA Foundation. Reflecting on her experience, Alina highlights several key insights: ▪️ In the nonprofit sector, it's not the budget that defines the quality of a project, but the impact it creates. ▪️ Invest in young talent — while they may require guidance at first, you'll eventually gain a motivated, creative professional. ▪️ The civic sector enhances communication skills, helping you connect even with tech company founders. ▪️ Working with children is challenging, but the results are incredibly rewarding. Learn more about the importance of civic engagement for career growth, and the new course from STEM is FEM in Alina Shcherbyna's column: https://lnkd.in/efDf4daw

#TakeActionTuesday: On May 9, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released their “College Athletics: Education Should Improve its Title IX Enforcement Efforts” report which showed that while more women are enrolled in colleges and universities in the U.S., more men participate in college athletics.  - 63% of colleges and universities had a 10% gap in the number of women enrolled compared to their women student-athletes.  - 40% of colleges not only had a large gap in women’s enrollment vs. athletic participation, but they also offered the same or fewer sports for women in the 2021 academic year as they did in 2009. GAO provides recommendations to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights including regularly analyzing the data from the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act and creating goals for timely responses for college Title IX athletic cases.  While the information in this report shows glaring gender equity issues, we are not surprised by its findings. WSF continues to be committed to holding those in power accountable to enact systemic change that will lead to equitable treatment for all student-athletes. #TheEquityProject Your Turn:  1. Reach out to your elected officials to ask whether they’ve co-sponsored Fair Play for Women Act, a bill that promotes equity in school sports and institutional support for girls’ and women's sports programs.  2. Check out our ‘50 Years of Title IX: We’re Not Done Yet’ research report on our website, for additional policy recommendations that coaches, school administrators, elected officials, policymakers and more can take to ensure that Title IX is fully enforced. https://lnkd.in/g7BhC53U 3. Share these resources with your networks to help your community better understand Title IX and if you notice any inequities, please reach out to WSF! 

To all the Women of the World, In response to the horrific on-campus murder of 22-year-old UGA student, Laken Riley, we are making our complete Women Empowered program free to access for the next 48 hours (ending at midnight on Sunday, March 3, 2024). No credit card is required, simply create a free account (if you don't already have one), and when you're done, you'll have full access to the 20-lesson Women Empowered program that normally costs $249. Self-defense begins with the belief that you are worth defending. It's our hope that once women all over dive into the course, not only will they realize they are worth defending, but they will realize that they are capable of defending themselves with the time-tested techniques that Women Empowered provides. If after the free access period is over, you want to continue learning with us, we would love that. It's very important to us that no woman be restricted from accessing this life-saving material due to financial constraints. So, for all the women who join Gracie University during the free access period, we'll be sending you a $100 discount code if you decide to continue the journey with us. You are worth defending, and we're so proud of you for taking this first step with us. -Rener & Eve Gracie https://lnkd.in/eJn6dY4j

Mizzou's DEI Shake-Up: A Sign of What's to Come? In a bold move, the University of Missouri has shut down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) division. Burton Garland, Jr. dives into the reasons behind this decision, from financial strains to political pressures, and what it could mean for universities nationwide. Is this the beginning of a larger trend? Find out in this compelling segment. #DEI #Mizzou #HigherEducation #CampusReform #InstitutionalChange

Mizzou's DEI Shake-Up: A Sign of What's to Come? In a bold move, the University of Missouri has shut down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) division. Burton Garland, Jr. dives into the reasons behind this decision, from financial strains to political pressures, and what it could mean for universities nationwide. Is this the beginning of a larger trend? Find out in this compelling segment. #DEI #Mizzou #HigherEducation #CampusReform #InstitutionalChange

An Edutopia - George Lucas Educational Foundation article explores the lasting impacts of equity efforts. Following the success of their first annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) Day in 2023, a school prepared to host the event this year by securing a grant, facilitating interactive sessions, and encouraging ongoing collaboration among students. In the article, Beth Pandolpho and Fay Kim emphasize the importance of leadership in promoting equitable practices. Read the article: https://edut.to/3LYqQWL #RaisingOurCity #Equity #DEI

🚨 **Calling All Women of Color Mentors and Sponsors!** 🚨 Why We Need Sponsors: With UW System data revealing that Black students constitute less than 3% of the student body at UW-Madison, we are confronted with an alarming disparity. When compared to census data showing that 6.4% of Wisconsinites and 13.4% of the U.S. population are Black, the underrepresentation at UW-Madison highlights the systemic inequities that persist. Despite these challenges, Black students demonstrate resilience and success, with an impressive six-year graduation rate of 81.1%. But the fact remains that Black students at UW consider leaving at rates three times higher than white students due to the "racial climate." Campus climate surveys echo this, showing that underrepresented groups feel less welcome, safe, and respected. And when we look at Wisconsin’s 25.7 percentage point gap between white and Black high school graduation rates, it's clear that the challenges extend far beyond college. Black women, in particular, face unique challenges—both academically and professionally. That’s why mentorship, sponsorship, and support are crucial. Programs like *Sisters in Success (SIS)* at UW-Madison aim to provide that foundation, fostering mentorship, professional development, and the celebration of womanhood for Black women. But to continue and expand this impact, we need **sponsors** who are ready to champion diversity, equity, and excellence. By sponsoring SIS, you help create transformative programs and resources that nurture professional growth, academic achievement, and sisterhood. Together, we can redefine success and empower the next generation of Black women at UW-Madison and beyond. 💡 Interested in making a difference? Join us as a mentor or sponsor and help change the narrative for Black women in academia and the workforce. #Diversity #MentorshipMatters #WomenOfColor #BlackExcellence #Sisterhood #UWMadison #EquityInEducation #SponsorshipOpportunity

I finally had a chance to read this post from Stu Schmill, Dean of Admissions at MIT. It is the best post I have read in a long time on the role of diversity in college admissions and the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA) case last year. Diversity and equality in the education world (and beyond) are major issues that we must battle together, and it will be interesting to see how other colleges rise to the challenge. #collegeadmissions #diversity #equality