Sport Shifts Fundraiser
Donation protected
Sport has had a huge influence on me, and my dream growing up was always to work in sports and make an influence on other people’s lives. I overcame huge obstacles in front of me including being typecaste as a trouble maker due to my ADHD not being diagnosed to graduate in sports management at University. I have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry in unpaid or part time positions, and have worked hard to develop a fantastic network. Despite this, I have not been able to secure full time paid work in the industry.
But I didn’t give up, I kept pushing doors open and have been able to be part of some amazing sports events. I have been called the “best networker I know” by many of my friends and colleagues, however something always bothered me when I would attend networking events to learn from amazing, established and high-profile speakers. These networking events were often closed communities made up of the same old faces and as a Black woman I never met people I could relate to. I truly believe in the power that sport has, I believe that as many people should be able to access that power.
So I got to work and put my networking and events management skills to good use to make a difference for people who are like me. Sports shifts was created in 2019 as a network that aims to further conversations about sports, by bringing diverse voices and topics to the table.
Our 2021 aims are the following:
- To continue to build on our online events from 2020
- To create a space safe that encourages conversation, critical discussion or debates and actions
- To increase our efforts when it comes to representing the Black disability community
- To focus a lot more on Black joy which is important to Sports Development and Black Development
Our socials:
https://twitter.com/SportShifts
https://www.instagram.com/sportshifts
But I didn’t give up, I kept pushing doors open and have been able to be part of some amazing sports events. I have been called the “best networker I know” by many of my friends and colleagues, however something always bothered me when I would attend networking events to learn from amazing, established and high-profile speakers. These networking events were often closed communities made up of the same old faces and as a Black woman I never met people I could relate to. I truly believe in the power that sport has, I believe that as many people should be able to access that power.
So I got to work and put my networking and events management skills to good use to make a difference for people who are like me. Sports shifts was created in 2019 as a network that aims to further conversations about sports, by bringing diverse voices and topics to the table.
Our 2021 aims are the following:
- To continue to build on our online events from 2020
- To create a space safe that encourages conversation, critical discussion or debates and actions
- To increase our efforts when it comes to representing the Black disability community
- To focus a lot more on Black joy which is important to Sports Development and Black Development
Our socials:
https://twitter.com/SportShifts
https://www.instagram.com/sportshifts
Organizer
Tosin Gbaja
Organizer
England
