VILLANOVA, Pa. – When in an environment that cultivates belonging and emboldens the power of advocating for others, it is easy to feel inspired and want to help spread those lessons to others within your own community. That is just what two Villanova student-athletes left this year's
Athlete Ally Athlete Activism Summit feeling.
Winnie Jalet, a rising senior on the Swimming and Diving team, and Makenzie Fisher, a rising junior on the Women's Lacrosse team, both who are members of UNITAS' Athlete Ally affinity and ally group, were joined by Alexis Wilson, Program Manager from the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, in Portland, Ore. for the four-day event. The fifth annual summit brings together college athletes, coaches and administrators working to build a future for sports where everyone belongs. Throughout the four days, those in attendance take part in panels, breakouts, reflections and outings to learn about building community and commit to actions to help expand inclusion, allyship and belonging on their campuses.
This year's summit had a central theme of "spirit". Attendees defined that word over days focused on "Spirit of Self" and "Spirit of Us" that led into a day of play where they could combine teamwork and fun that promoted the joy in sport and the joy of unity, inclusion and belonging for all.
Villanova has been represented at the summit for two years now with Jalet making the trip both this year and last. Both Jalet and Fisher reflected on their time in Oregon and what they gleaned from the event.
WHY WAS THE ATHLETE ACTIVISM SUMMIT IMPACTFUL FOR YOU?
Jalet: "Being surrounded by queer people from all over the nation who are a part of sport. There's nothing more heartwarming than going to a new place and being loved for your identity rather than ostracized."
Fisher: "Attending this event and being surrounded by fellow student-athletes from other Athlete Ally chapters gave me an incredible sense of community, comfort and confidence to fully be myself. Hearing the stories shared by other student-athletes and panelists was deeply impactful and inspired me to become a stronger advocate, both on and off the field."
WHAT MESSAGES FROM THE WEEK STOOD OUT TO YOU?
Jalet: "When we got on the first shuttle there were hats on every seat. Mine said 'Let Them Play'. This simple message meant a lot to me because I think we get caught up in how the media portrays LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. I remembered this weekend how everyone deserves the opportunity to play sports and that being a part of a team can save someone's life."
Fisher: "One moment that stood out to me was one of Hudson's opening speeches, where he spoke about the power of advocacy that comes with the platform sports provide. As a wrestler at the University of Maryland, Hudson (Taylor, founder of Athlete Ally) was often surrounded by teammates who used homophobic language. In response, he began wearing an equality sticker on the side of his headgear. This small but bold act drew media attention and led to an outpouring of support, including emails from athletes across the country."
HOW CAN ATTENDING AN EVENT LIKE THIS INSPIRE STUDENT-ATHLETES?
Jalet: "I gained a lot of insight on how to grow our chapter of athlete ally, through workshops and through casual conversation. This definitely inspired me and I will bring back new ideas to our campus."
Fisher: "As a student-athlete, this inspired me to recognize the power of my voice within my sport to advocate not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but also for other marginalized groups. Being in the spotlight as an athlete means you have a platform, and with that comes the choice and responsibility to speak up for the issues you care about."
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THE WEEK?
Jalet: "When we come together as a community, we are unstoppable. Through one-on-one connections but also on a larger scale, when we decide we will not be silenced, we can make a huge impact."
Fisher: "From the panelists and fellow student-athletes who shared their stories, I was reminded of the immense power of advocacy, especially the power of advocacy in numbers. If you want change, you have to fight for it, and victories are achieved through unity."
To learn more about UNITAS' Athlete Ally affinity and ally group and find additional resources for allyship learning and training, visit the chapter's page at this link.
