Needless to say, 2020 brought a myriad of unexpected challenges across the globe and in the United States and now that we have entered a new year, we are collectively as a nation, and as individuals, hoping for a better 2021. It is undeniable that many parts of our society have been affected one way or another by this past year. The future of quality education throughout the United States is no exception. Now that 2021 is upon us, and there is a new administration taking office, we will be looking into what this may mean for the future of education, during and post pandemic. 

President Joe Biden has formally announced his cabinet which has the most people of color and most female representation in history, as well as the first openly gay Cabinet member. As an organization rooted in promoting diversity, this is definitely something to celebrate! The Cabinet member that has us excited and will have an immediate impact on our organization and our kids is Biden’s pick for Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.

Who is Miguel Cardona? 

Cardona was born to Puerto Rican parents who migrated to the United States. He grew up in Connecticut and in public housing. As a child, he attended the local public school and was an English Language learner.  This has influenced his focus and desire to close the gaps that ELL students have compared to their classmates. He was the first person in his family to attend college, became a public school fourth grade teacher, and later served as a principal for 10 years. In summary,  he has first-hand experience in the public school system in the United States and knows its weaknesses. He not only attended a public school himself but also was an educator and administrator. 

Cardona is entering this position in one of the most important but also taxing times possibly in the history of the U.S.; during a pandemic that has affected the education system, children, and young adults within it, for nearly a full year now. It is no secret that there is a large equity gap in the U.S. education system that has continued to widen during this pandemic. Students around the country are struggling and those that reside in low-income communities are suffering the most. According to a U.S. census survey, conducted in April of 2020 “4.4 million households with students still lack consistent access to a computer and 3.7 million lack internet access.” Cardona as well as Biden acknowledge this disparity.  

Biden has spoken about increasing funding and recognizes that some parents have to drive their students to coffee shops just so they can attend school or turn in homework assignments. At Kids in the Game, we too have adjusted our program models to adapt to the unique online school climate. This year we opened Remote Learning Centers at multiple locations so parents had the flexibility to drop their kids off at a site and trust that their school work would get done in a positive environment. They were then able to work a full day, many being essential workers. 

Importantly, Cardona recognizes the essential challenges he is facing did not just become an issue with COVID-19, but have been systematic issues throughout the history of education in the U.S. 

Biden and Cardona’s COVID-related plans: 

1. Reopening schools: President Biden and Cardona both stressed their desire to re-open schools, but made sure to emphasize that they want to safely re-open schools. Biden explained that he would like to have the majority of the schools in the U.S. open again by then end of the administration’s first 100 days. Biden further discussed that to do this they would need funding approved from congress to be able to provide more ventilation and cleaning services. 

Other Plans for the Education System: 

Both Cardona and Biden as well as Vice-President Kamala Harris are focused on addressing multiple equity gaps in the U.S.’ education system, including but not limited to:

1. Increase funding for Title I schools: In his address, on December 23rd, Biden asks “How must it be in America that parents have to drive to a parking lot of a coffee shop or library for wifi that they cannot afford at home so that their kids can attend school?” To help address this problem as well as others faced by low-income families in the U.S they expressed their desire to provide triple-funding for Title I schools. 
2. Mental Health Services: Biden proposed his plan to double the amount of school psychologists, therapists, and nurses in schools. This will give teachers the opportunity to focus more on teaching. 
3. Increased funding for HBCUs:  Biden’s presidential campaign often emphasized their desire to narrow the inequity gaps within our education system. Now that Biden is the president-elect it is no different as he has proposed to invest $70 billion into HBCUs and other minority focused serving institutions. 

What does this mean for Kids in the Game?

We at Kids in the Game provide direct programming to public, private, and charter schools no matter what neighborhood. One of our main goals is to narrow the inequality gap within one of the most segregated cities in the country. It is exciting to see a Secretary of Education who wants the same. 

To read more about Biden as well as Cardona’s plan for education, you can click here.

Written by Sol Ashgarcia

Spotlight: Naomi Osaka

“International Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.”

United Nations

At Kids in the Game it is our mission to provide positive experiences and opportunities through sports and creative play for all youth across New York City. Over the last year, education equity and equality has come to the forefront of conversation across the world alongside the Black Lives Matter movement, and the Kids in the Game Foundation has looked to do our part by creating scholarship funds such as The Real MVP Fund and the Continuing Education Fund.

As an organization we feel that is our job to continue to spread the message of equality not just through our words but our actions. In a year where our country and the world has been devastated by the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is important to acknowledge the necessity of equality for all people so we can recover together.

As a team we’ve made a commitment to educate ourselves and the people around us. And today, we are taking the time to learn about athletes who have used their platform for activism. Our spotlight today shines upon Naomi Osaka. Many know Osaka as the uber talented tennis player who came from a set down to win her second US Open title this year. She then became the No. 1 player in the world, all before the age of 23. 

Just a couple of days ago, Osaka won the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year activist athlete award. And yes, all the on court success contributed, but it was her work off the court that had the biggest impact. Naomi used her platform to raise awareness and shine light on racial injustice and police brutality across the United States and the rest of the world. 

Months before the US Open began, Osaka took the time to visit Minneapolis, specifically the exact spot where George Floyd was brutally murdered by police. These moments of reflection and education are what helped inspire Osaka to use her platform. On the biggest stage in tennis, she would wear a mask with his name on it. For his family, for his community, and for all Black Americans.

Just a month before the US Open began, Osaka was a semifinalist in the Cincinnati Tournament, where she withdrew to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. Many allowed this to be their moment to speak out, but Naomi made sure her actions spoke as well. She knew this moment was larger than just tennis. 

“By wearing seven masks at the U.S. Open— with a new one for every round, each honor­ing a different Black victim of police violence or a racist attack—Naomi made an extremely powerful statement. Every time she walked out to play people were talking about which name was going to be on the mask. Breonna Taylor. Elijah McClain. Ahmaud Arbery. Trayvon Martin. George Floyd. Philando Castile. Tamir Rice.”

Sports Illustrated

At the US Open Naomi brought so much attention to these stories. She is the leader of the next generation of young and amazing women in sports, and she is teaching us all about the impact we can have on the world.

Last year, our team at Kids in the Game looked at celebrities whose values best align with ours, and Michelle Obama was who we found fit best. As Naomi took the world by storm, she was listening to “Becoming,” Michelle Obama’s audiobook. Neither of those women asked to be thrust into the spotlight the way they have been, but they are aware of the position they hold and their weight to affect change. It is important that we as an organization understand how we can affect change, too. Where we channel our resources to make the most impact. As coaches, teachers, and athletes, we can have open and honest conversations with each other and our students, as a voice for kids across NYC. 

Our Core Values

• Inclusive We embrace individual strengths and backgrounds.
• Committed We join together to work, play and grow as a team.
• Positive We lead by example through sincere positivity.
• Empathetic We respect each other, our families and our kids.
• Ambitious We challenge ourselves to constantly pursue growth.

 It is vital that our coaches embody these core values and show youth across the city that no matter where you come from, you can spark change.

Written by Pranav Vaid

The week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.

At Kids in the Game, we’re working to create more visibility by observing Transgender Awareness Week internally and celebrating the achievements of trans athlete Chris Mosier to inspire others and promote inclusion. On Tuesday our team participated in a learning session that included listening to a podcast on intersectionality and the LGBTQIA experience featuring Barbara Smith & Lady Pyhll. Barbara is a Lesbian feminist and socialist who has played a significant role in Black feminism in the United States since the early 1970s. Lady Phyll is Co-Founder of UK Black Pride & Editor of Sista: an anthology of writings by LGBT women of African/Caribbean descent with a connection to the United Kingdom. 

Through this session and open conversations amongst team members, we are working to create a more inclusive environment. As an organization, we strive to meet kids where they are, integrate communities and welcome people of all backgrounds. 

Athlete Spotlight: Chris Mosier

Chris Mosier is a trailblazing transgender athlete and thought leader on LGBTQ inclusion in sports. Chris is Vice President of community relations and program development for You Can Play, an organization that ensures safety and inclusion across all sports for LGBTQ players, coaches and fans. 

In 2019, Mosier joined the Board of Directors of Point of Pride, a non-profit that works with trans people in need of gender affirming programs. Mosier is also a USA certified triathlon coach, as well as a coach and Ambassador for the Empire Triathlon Club in NYC since 2012. 

Chris Mosier has dedicated his life to sports and the importance of respect and inclusion within them.  In 2015, Chris earned a spot on the Team USA Sprint Dualiton Men’s Team for the 2016 World Championships. In 2016, Chris made history as the first known transgender athlete to compete on a U.S. national team based on his gender identity and not his assigned gender at birth.

After competing at the highest level, Chris took on a new challenge, dedicating his life to educating and empowering the world on the importance of inclusion. He is now known as the go-to source for policy and information on trangender people in sport. He also created ‘transathlete.com’ a resource for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion in athletics at various levels of play.

Did you know?

24% of the LGBTQ say they play a youth sport, compared to 68% of all other youth. 

youcanplayproject.org

83% of fans surveyed believe that an openly gay spectator at a sporting event would not be safe. 

thechrismosier.com

When we understand these statistics, we realize the importance of education and inclusion. Simply saying we recognize all people isn’t enough, and we have to be proactive and open in creating these spaces. This starts with educating ourselves and continuing to learn more every day. When we allow ourselves to take on those challenges, we start to feel confident enough to educate and give support to others. There is also a balance in knowing it’s okay to ask questions when you are unsure. We’re allowed to be wrong. And we must practice active listening. Active listening shows care, an eagerness to learn and commitment to better yourself. 

Chris’s mission highlights what we believe in at Kids in the Game. He uses his  platform to educate, demonstrate and lead by example. He understands that kids can often feel as if they don’t have a voice, and he challenges himself to be that for them.  As coaches, co-workers and role models it is our job to lead by example and create a safe place for kids and the people we work with to feel accepted. At Kids in the Game, one of our ultimate impact goals is to develop emotional intelligence in youth and help our kids form impactful long term relationships. Both are not possible unless we fully embrace the differences in people and educate ourselves. When we are able to do so, the mission of creating accepting, nurturing and educated environments is possible, and we are all able to be the best people we can be.