The Aspen Institute

Landmark legislation that greatly expanded access to sports participation opportunities for many girls and women, Title IX celebrates its 40th anniversary in June. Yet, most girls still do not play sports, with deficits most pronounced in urban and other low-income communities. On May 31, the Sports & Society Program hosted a symposium that explored breakthrough ideas and strategies that can help address the barriers to entry for underserved girls.

The symposium was anchored by a featured conversation with WNBA and Olympic basketball star Maya Moore, who discussed her pathway to the pros and her desire to inspire other girls to play. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, the event included major media coverage and a live webcast, allowing an online audience to experience the sessions and contribute via social media using the symposium’s official hashtag (#T9andbeyond).

PRE-EVENT

Sports & Society director Tom Farrey (@TomFarrey) previewed the event in a series of blog entries:

• “The Critical Role of Sports in Society“
• “Extending the Promise of Title IX to All Girls“
• “Symposium on Moving Beyond Title IX to Spotlight Long-Ignored Problem“

Contributing a guest blog was Nancy Hogshead-Makar, senior director of advocacy at the Women’s Sports Foundation: “Lessons Learned from Title IX“

EVENT AND AGENDA

View event program HERE, which includes informational charts and speaker bios

Watch video clips of each of the sessions and speakers by clicking on the links below:

Introduction by Cheryl Campbell, Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Region Board of Directors, American Heart Association

Session One: NINE QUESTIONS with basketball star Maya Moore, in conversation with Tom Farrey

Excerpt from documentary about south Philadelphia girls’ soccer team, followed by moderated discussion with Anderson Monarchs center midfielder Kahlaa Cannady and coach Jafi Barnes, and former US national women’s soccer team member Kim Crabbe

Session Two: NINE BIG IDEAS from practitioners who have succeeded in working with girls in underserved communities, or leaders with promising concepts. Speakers were organized into three groups of three:

Group I: People

• Don’t Just Engage Low-Income Girls — Engage Their Parents: Anne Mosle, Director, ASCEND, Family Economic Security Program of the Aspen Institute
• Recruit More Female Coaches: Janet Carter, Executive Director, Coaching Corps (formerly Team Up for Youth)
• Develop Role Models for Immigrant Girls: Awista Ayub, Author, Kabul Girls Soccer Club; founder, Afghan Youth Sports Exchange

Group II: Programs

• Marry Art with Sport: Amy Nakamoto, Executive Director, America SCORES
• Promote Development over Competition: Diana Cutaia, Athletic Director, Wheelock College (Mass.)
• Don’t Go It Alone — Forge Partnerships with Existing Local Providers: Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Women’s Sports Foundation

Group III: Policy

• Encourage the Introduction of Low-Cost, Alternative Sports: Laurie Whitsel, President, National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity
• Create a Multi-Sector Marketing Campaign: Robin Schepper, Senior Advisor, BiPartisan Policy Center
• Have Congress State the Purpose of School-Based Sports: Dionne Koller, Director, University of Baltimore Center for Sport and the Law

Session Three: NINE STRATEGIES that could broaden adoption of the most powerful ideas, as suggested by a panel of national experts from key realms

• Anita DeFrantz, Chair, Women and Sport Commission, International Olympic Committee
• John DiPaolo, Chief of Staff, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education 
• Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
• John Walsh, Executive Editor, ESPN

POST-EVENT MEDIA

espnW: “Too High a Price to Play,” June 7, by Tom Farrey

New York Times: “Black and White Women Far From Equal Under Title IX,” June 10, by William C. Rhoden

TeamUSA: “Olympians Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Title IX,” June 20, by Amy Rosewater

Fenom: “Shaping a New Generation of Women Athletes by Reshaping the Industry,” June 4, by Melissa Matthews

Blog entry in association with GOOD Maker: “Title IX Athletic Challenge — Vote Now“

Photo slideshow  

This program was made possible through support from the American Heart Association.

Landmark legislation that greatly expanded access to sports participation opportunities for many girls and women, Title IX celebrates its 40th anniversary in June. Yet, most girls still do not play sports. The deficits are most pronounced in urban and other low-income communities. The lifting of participation rates is a matter of national consequence for reasons that include social development and public health.