Porter Represents Golden Flashes at NCAA Inclusion Forum
5/3/2023 9:01:00 AM | General
KENT- Franklin Porter, Jr, the Kent State Athletics Diversity Outreach and Professional Impact Director, represented the Golden Flashes at the NCAA Inclusion Forum held in Indianapolis.
The 11th annual forum had more than 600 member administrators, coaches, and student-athletes from across the country in attendance. There was a myriad of impactful and engaging sessions, including keynotes from Bryan Stevenson, Founder & Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author of best seller "Just Mercy"; Emily Ladau, Disability Rights Activist, Writer and Speaker; and Dr. Harry Edwards., Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, Civic Activist & Author.
This year's programming was centered on the NCAA Office of Inclusion's five core areas: disability, LGBTQ, race/ethnicity, women, and international inclusion. The forum addressed topics that departments like Kent State are currently navigating. The discussion addressed how to bridge gaps from the athletic department and campus diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, how to keep momentum in the wake of ever-changing legislation, intentional hiring and retaining a diverse candidate pool.
Porter was also selected to serve as a panelist on the topic of Championing Black and Brown Student-Athletes at Predominately White Institutions (PWI).
"I was honored to be selected to be a panelist at this year's Inclusion Forum," Porter said. "It was great to once again work with and alongside Return on Inclusion Founder/CEO Nevin Caple. We discussed the barriers that black and brown student-athletes face to feel included at a PWI. Also, the importance of leadership establishing an inclusive environment to illustrate our culture and what are our non-negotiables. It was rewarding to share our experiences in this space and provide practical tools that other institutions can implement to continue to grow in their support of black and brown student-athletes."
One of the over-arching themes of the Forum was the power of proximity. Porter was reminded that you make a difference in the lives of the people closest to and around you. Any thought process for upcoming initiatives or programs need to put that idea at the forefront of their objectives.
"When you embrace the power of proximity, inclusion will no longer be something that you think about, it becomes as natural and gratifying as breathing in fresh air," Porter said.
 For more details about this year's Inclusion Forum, click here.
