1. If I can Row…
I can Do Anything
Empowering & Celebrating Inclusivity Within the Sport of
Rowing

2. Contents
Who Am I? My personal story
Mission & Philosophy
A Premise for Action
Inclusion
The Rowing experience
Our Approach To…
Inclusion
Community engagement & collaboration
Program structure
American Rows Initiative & grass root engagement

3. My Personal Story
From Stockton
Rowing as H.S. Senior
• Pacific Crew
• Inclusion Coordinator

4. The America Rows Initiative:
A Premise for action
Can rowing be an end in An Environment of
itself? Inclusion
We believe the sport is Value contribution of
transformational and others
foundational to wellness Value contribution of self
for life. Respect the synergy of
shared goals, distributed
leadership, and
collaboration.

5. The “why” of Inclusion
Simply projecting there is something fundamentally wrong with
the sport of rowing is untrue. The sport is neutral!
Could Possible Send a Message
that those currently part of the sport deliberately engage in
behavior that creates wrongness in the sport
that somehow they are not good people; I believe this is damaging
because it separates us rather than uniting our energies to have
the sport reflect our communities more deliberately.

6. “Why” continued…
that those underrepresented individuals who decide
to step forth into this new world do so in a guise of
abnormality.
that what they are doing is courageous and takes
away their freedom to chose what is a good fit for
them.
Diversity has been found to strengthen collaboration
Likeability more important than competence in
achieving shared goals, which has little to do with
how we look….

7. Conscious Engagement
Something I keep in mind before promoting…
It is important to step back and be mindful of the
purpose we assume guides and motivates us as
leaders within the sport,
it is important to identify what inspires us so that we
can clearly and effectively act on those very
passions!

8. We believe the sport of rowing is transformational
because it facilitates;
A positive and supporting environment that will challenge
one to be honest with themselves
to take necessary, though uncomfortable steps to get
stronger,
to stay committed, dedicated, and deliberate in preparation
to bring their very best to each stroke.

9. The Rowing Experience
Is it not the experience we get as an individual that inspires us to
encourage others to participate?
When we are in that boat, we do not identify differences: five
seat does not look like me
we instead act cooperatively with a singular thought of being
one and doing our very best to support the 9 in this boat,
we never lose track of our self because we understand what I
can do to help us,
Recognition of the very power I can bring to the table enables
team performance because it keeps one accountable.
So we must live that experience.

10. Values of Rowing: A holistic View
"Become a rower in the community and the community
will become rowers". Richard Butler, US Rowing
Inclusion Manager 18 June 2011.
We’re not just talking about crossing the finish line.
We’re talking about creating a ripple effect of positive
change within our communities.
Growing civic pride and appreciation for fellow citizens, as
you in fellowship experience the waterways
To learn that we are not that different after all-celebrating
sameness as empowered community athletes.

11. For our Community
Rowing can be an agent that spurs & sustains
“holistically positive development of health
actualizing habits (thoughts and mind-sets) and
behaviors”.

12. Transformation
We do not want people to participate because we need more African
Americans, etc, but because we want them to experience the unimaginable
experience we cannot describe;
 this character definer we take everywhere and some how we know we
can take on any challenge.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have more people who had that very insight,
that belief that they could accept any challenge,
Lessons learned together are shared with families, co-workers, and all
who they come in contact with in their communities
This not done by reminding people that they are not suppose to be
here, that they have defied incredible odds, it’s only incredible because
we perceive as such, but that is not the philosophy we have taken in
promoting Deep Water Rowing Association.

13. Mission & Philosophy
Philosophy:
Everyone deserves the opportunity to row, and experience
the life-time benefits this sport has to offer.
Mission:
deliver a unique opportunity for
participation, competition, and development of life skills
through the sport of rowing to the community of the greater
Stockton area.
“It is our goal that participants will gain a finer
appreciation for the sport of rowing, and for their
own potential to be successful in it.”

14. Collaboratively Meeting our Mission
SUSD schools RSC Opportunities for disabled persons
Tradition & Non-traditional Stockton Juneteenth Celebration
Elementary & High School Stockton Public Libraries
LUSD Tiger Study Halls
Study Skills
University of the Pacific’s
Homework Help
Department of Sport Sciences
Volunteer Opportunity
Division of Student Life
City & County Educators
Department: Center for Community Promotion of affordable means to
Involvement adopt healthy & active life style
New Student Orientation Pacific Rowing Events & Opportunities
Beyond our Gates Initiative We Row! Winter Camp 2010
Public Service Announcement Intro to Rowing Classes
KWIN Community Counsel
Clear Channel Radio

15. Inclusion within Rowing
It’s Good For You
What Crew Teaches Participants
It’s Good For our Community
An Agent for positive change and growth