The statue in Champions Plaza outside Folsom Field on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ann Marie Vanderveen/ CU Independent)
The annual Inclusive Sports Summit at the University of Colorado Boulder kicked off on Feb. 5 with a panel discussion about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at different sports organizations. In the midst of the Trump administration’s recent executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI, the panelists discussed why it matters in sports.
The summit’s theme for 2025 was “We change the game: Embracing the value of inclusive sports and recreation.” The summit aimed to broaden conversations about diversity and opportunities in sports.
Panelist Christina Drown, a membership services manager at USA Weightlifting, said DEI programs include more people than some often think.
“It’s not just black people, it’s not just women, there’s all sorts of disabilities and different ways that people need to be included,” Drown said. “It doesn’t just include the top three minority groups that come into your head when you say DEI.”
The panelists talked about the resistance they have faced when putting DEI programs together. Recent actions taken by the Trump administration have rolled back DEI efforts, and reinforced beliefs that these initiatives leave people out or only benefit minority groups.
“At the end of the day, stopping programming just because a small group is upset that they aren’t getting this programming isn’t going to help grow your sport,” said Suzy Sanchez, the head of USA Cycling’s DEI program. “It’s not going to help improve your organization.”
Panelists told numerous stories during the 50-minute panel that they said showcased different ways DEI efforts have provided more opportunities for minorities in sports. Sanchez spoke about a program she helped organize that taught kids in Harlem how to ride bikes and how this benefited them beyond just sports.
Panelists also said DEI initiatives in sports exist to benefit everyone, whether or not they are directly involved in the programs.
Although not every student at CU is on a sports team or involved in athletics, Tony Price, the director of recreation services at CU Boulder, said this event is still relevant to everyone’s experience.
“A lot of the topics in the panel can be applied to different areas on campus,” he said. “The education, the opportunity to network, the community, the things that we’re doing that are focused on sport around diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, they’re also transferable into other facets of university life.”
Shayla Rohena, a CU student on the cheerleading team, said the panel was engaging.
“It was interesting to see their perspective on the sports side,” Rohena said.
She said many of her teammates attended different events at the summit.
“We will be able to implement the things we learned in the future,” Rohena said. “It’s nice to learn about it, and next year we can help include it more.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Alexandra Organa at alexandra.organa@colorado.edu.
