ROSE BOWL INSTITUTE CONTINUES RACE & SPORTS PROGRAM PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

PASADENA, Calif. (December 10, 2020) – The Rose Bowl Institute announced today that it will air its next program on Thursday, December 17, 2020 –The Rose Bowl Institute Race and Sports Dialogue: Past, Present & Future. 

The Rose Bowl Institute will address issues of race and sports in a one-hour moderated discussion streamed on December 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET on Facebook and Youtube. Engaging four panelists, ESPN Sports Broadcaster Jessica Mendoza will moderate the panel discussion among Manager of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Dave Roberts, NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Galaxy phenomenon Julian Araujo, and Founder and President of Angel City women’s soccer club Julie Uhrman.

The program is the second on race and sports from the Institute after its initial content in August featured Sharon Robinson, Ronnie Lott, Cobi Jones, and Taylor Branch.

One of the outstanding symbols of leading by example was Jackie Robinson – a former Pasadena resident, a Rose Bowl Stadium record holder, an icon in the game of baseball, and an exemplar of a meaningful life. This ongoing series on Race in Sports is dedicated to him and his life lessons.

The one-hour panel discussion on Dec. 17 will address ways that sports influence broader society regarding racial discrimination past, present and future. How can sports be a leader in the struggle for inclusion and equity? Panelists will address difficulties players of all races and ethnicity have undergone when playing at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. What are the barriers to players of color at these levels and how are they best addressed? Why is equity and equality still an issue? How should teams and leagues extend their diversity of management and ownership?

“Sports have the opportunity to lead by example,” said Charlie Firestone, president of the Rose Bowl Institute. “Players’ opinions are seen and valued by their fans, especially young ones. League policies matter to the society at large as they are highly visible, involve large populations and have important symbolism.”

“For these reasons,” Firestone continued, “it is important for the Rose Bowl Institute to continue to address how sports can lead the body politic in issues of racial equity, and also how sports institutions can improve in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.”

The Rose Bowl Institute, an arm of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and Rose Bowl Stadium, champions sportsmanship and aims to “leverage the power of sports to unite people everywhere.” 

The Rose Bowl Institute concentrates on sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship activities. Using the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium as a classroom and its digital footprint, the RBI engages civic and business leaders, athletes, students, sportscasters, journalists and other members of the public in activities to highlight sports values and their impact on the broader society.   

See Promo Video here.  If you are interested in more information please email rosebowlinstitute@rosebowlstadium.com or visit www.rosebowlinstitute.org.