As a society we are recognizing that racism is imbedded in our systems and structures. Racism is prevalent in sport and this session will talk about what that means and what you need to think about to surface this topic in your sport.
Panelists
Ruke Okome: My name is Ruke Okome and I am the Social Operations Manager for Free Play for kids. My deep appreciation for sports, community and overall belonging drives my passion in everything I do. I myself am an active individual and I strongly believe that there is magic in using sport as a social tool to get kids, youths and adults to not only be active, playing and having fun but also helps in recognizing their strengths, autonomy and discovering who they are OR who they want to be. I always strive to ensure that the voices and lived experiences of the individuals who access our program lead the way in creating social change and being a part of Free Play allows me to do just that!
Laura McPhie: Laura McPhie (she/her/kwe) is a member of Pikwakanagan First Nation and of mixed Indigenous and colonial descent. She speaks from lived experience of being a Two-Spirit/Queer urban Indigenous person who is a trauma survivor and neuro-divergent. Laura’s education includes two Masters that focused on Museum and Cultural Heritage, Business and Sport Administration, and Sexual Diversity Studies from Ohio University and University of Toronto. Currently, she uses her lived experience as a queer, Indigenous, trauma survivor to design interactive trainings, education frameworks, and DEI policy advice for organizations. Laura’s DEI work spans industries, helping support the advancement of DEI knowledge of workplaces within finance, sport, culture, and education institutions. Laura believes strongly that we are each on a learning path and our roles are to help those on the path around us.