John Calipari and the McLendon Foundation were honored at the Social Innovation Summit this week.
Here are details from UK:
NEW YORK — After successfully launching and building the foundation for the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative (MLI) – a coach-driven initiative to provide minorities a jump-start to their careers through practical experiences, opportunities to build their network, and instilling the values of John McLendon – the McLendon Foundation will be honored with the inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award at the Social Innovation Summit (SIS) this week.
The SIS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award celebrates the business professionals, partnerships and programs that are going beyond blanket diversity conversations to drive actionable outcomes and create lasting changes within communities.
University of Kentucky (UK) men’s basketball head coach John Calipari and Harvard University men’s basketball head coach Tommy Amaker will accept the award on behalf of the McLendon Foundation on Wednesday, June 9 at 2:35 p.m. ET on the virtual mainstage of the Social Innovation Summit 2021. Calipari and Amaker, along with University of South Carolina head coach Frank Martin, spearheaded the effort of more than 80 coaches who have provided Future Leader opportunities at institutions and organizations across the country less than a year after the program was launched.
The Summit is open to everyone and can be watched by registering here.
“When we set out to start the MLI less than a year ago,” Calipari said, “our whole thought was, how can we, as coaches, make a tangible difference for talented young men and women who just need a chance? What can we do from our seat to give them an opportunity? I knew we would have to put our money where our mouths are and fund this initiative. I am proud of the more than 80 coaches across the country from all sports and all levels who came together to launch an initiative that, I believe, is only in its infancy in terms of the difference we can make. We did not create the MLI for honors such at this, but if it means we are making real change, Coach Amaker and I are honored to receive this award on behalf of all the MLI contributors who have played a part, and we cannot wait to see where this goes over the next several years.”
“I – along with Coach Calipari – am proud to accept this award on behalf of the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative and all of our contributing coaches and members,” said Amaker, who serves on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Board of Directors. “I have said since the inception of the MLI that it is a personal honor to be associated with Coach John McLendon. Today is a meaningful day for everyone supporting ‘the man and the mission.’”
The SIS Awards were created to recognize and celebrate impactful collaborations following a year of unprecedented challenges. The inaugural awards recognize collaborative initiatives between corporations, government, grant makers, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations.
As part of Social Innovation Summit’s mission to elevate groundbreaking ideas and shine a spotlight on the most innovative leaders addressing the most urgent social issues, four main categories of award focus were created – Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Economic Empowerment, Future of Work, and Covid Impact & Response. MLI are the recipients of the The Diversity Equity & Inclusion award.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of launching MLI, the McLendon Foundation is proud of how far the efforts have come in such a short time,” said Adrien Harraway, Director of the McLendon Foundation. “We are grateful for the passion and dedication these coaches have shown toward enhancing the pipeline for young minority administrators in sports across the industry.”
Earlier this spring, Calipari, Amaker and Martin were honored with an NABC Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for inclusion.
Calipari and Amaker spearheaded the MLI last summer after watching the nation confront issues of social injustice and racial inequality.
In the middle of a Facebook Live series to raise funds for COVID-19 relief, “Coffee with Cal,” Calipari, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, paused the show and shifted his attention to the MLI. He recruited Amaker and Martin, both members of the NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation, to join him to make change on college campuses and present opportunities for minorities. Their idea was to recruit minority candidates, known as MLI Future Leaders, and provide access and opportunity with real-world experience and networking platforms designed to elevate talented young women and men of color.
The initiative has drawn more than 80 coaches nationally from a variety of sports to serve as both MLI Ambassadors and be the primary source of funding. The MLI recently reached $1.5 million in funding.
As the 2020-21 academic year comes to a close, the inaugural cohort of MLI Future Leaders are concluding their tenure with the program. Additional opportunities will be available this summer and fall as the MLI kicks off its second cohort.
More information regarding the MLI, including application information for interested and qualified individuals, can be found at minorityleaders.org.
About the McLendon Foundation
The McLendon Foundation, established in 1999, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded and administered by NACDA. Through the scholarship program and leadership initiative, the McLendon Foundation provides minorities educational resources, practical experiences and serves as a vehicle for networking, career advancement and advocacy on behalf of the profession. More information regarding the McLendon Foundation can be found at minorityleaders.org.
About the Social Innovation Summit
Operating at the nexus of technology, philanthropy and business, Social Innovation Summit brings together the brightest minds – across industries, sectors and generations – to catalyze inspired partnerships that are disrupting social impact. We have worked diligently to curate and convene a social good community that is an influential and action-oriented agent for impact, and a unique platform in which the norm is challenged, the new is embraced and the unexpected is celebrated. Online registration is now open for the Summit’s three-day virtual experience on June 8-10th, 2021, which will include main stage programming, interactive breakout sessions and VIP opportunities. For more information, please visit http://www.socialinnovation.com/.
