Team Up for Change

Nikki Nicholson

-- Focused on Contributions of Women in the Social Justice Movement ---- Enhanced by Franchise Engagement with Community Throughout Week of Action and via Powerful Dialogue in The Huddle --

In 2018, the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks formed Team Up for Change, an award-winning initiative to inspire, unite and activate around a call for social justice and racial equality. Since then, Team Up for Change has continued to grow with yearly summits, conversations and participation from multiple teams across the NBA and WNBA.

This year, the Kings hosted the fifth installment of Team Up for Change in collaboration with the Bucks during Women’s Empowerment Month and highlighted the contributions of women leaders working in the social justice movement. Additionally, the team hosted events in the community focused on mentorship, health and wellness and civic engagement through the Week of Action and The Huddle.

Summit Aims to Inspire Local Community Members and Leaders

On March 13, the Team Up for Change summit brought together changemakers from across the country to discuss the intersection of sports, race and the pursuit of more equitable communities. Programming provided insight into the social justice movement, strategies to combat systemic racism and practices to promote sustainable change by advancing equity and inclusion.

The event began with breakfast and welcome remarks from Sports Anchor and Team Up for Change host Gianna Hearn, Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis and a video from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The summit then spotlighted four dynamic conversations.

Leadership in Action: The Power of Sports in Social Justice Advocacy

“This work is rooted in how we can advance racial equality and social justice,” proclaimed National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Head of Programs and Partnerships Mannone Butler. “We’re focused on a way to do it that is sustained and addresses systemic issues.”

The event’s first panel explored the role that sports play in promoting social justice and racial equality, delving into how sports can be used as a tool for change and how the NBA is paving the way by inspiring action, which includes not playing on Election Day and using the league and teams’ platforms to push civic engagement and strengthen community safety. The panel, moderated by Andscape and ESPN Senior NBA Writer Marc Spears, featured Sacramento Kings Co-Owner and Executive Board Member Alex Bhathal, Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst and National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Head of Programs and Partnerships Mannone Butler. The three panelists discussed how to combat social justice fatigue and the importance of sustained action.

“If we’re not worried, then we’re not going to be aggressive enough to continue to impact and make change,” said Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst. “For me, it took a personal experience with a player who I love to make that connection and understand the issues, the systemic challenges and to work through that with our organization. We should be encouraged on where we are today versus where we were 10, 20 or 50 years ago. So, yes we should be worried, but we should also be very encouraged and energized because now we can reach so many more people.”

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst

“Fatigue is real,” said National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Head of Programs and Partnerships Mannone Butler.” We must acknowledge it and be cognizant of the challenges that are associated with this push for fair and equitable treatment across the board.”

“Any one year is just a little bit more, and as long as the fire is burning and the flame is alive, you can wake up and all of a sudden the compounding is real and real changes happen,” said Sacramento Kings Co-Owner and Executive Board Member Alex Bhathal.” It’s less about that spark that creates a flash that can burn out quickly and more having that fire burning constantly to create generational improvements.”

Sacramento Kings Co-Owner and Executive Board Member Alex Bhathal

Breaking Barriers: A Fireside Chat on Social Justice and Policy

The second conversation featured two influential women in civil service – California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber and her daughter, Assemblymember Akilah Weber. During the dialogue, the two trailblazers discussed the challenges and opportunities facing women and people of color in social justice and policy.

When discussing what drew her mother to a career of education and civil service, Assemblymember Weber reflected on Dr. Weber’s family history, stating “Your father was a sharecropper from Arkansas with a 6th grade education, your mother was a homemaker with an 8th grade education, you lived in the projects in Los Angeles and yet despite all of those obstacles you went on to receive a PhD from UCLA, founded the Black Studies department at San Diego State University and became California’s first Black Secretary of State – where did your tenacity and grit to keep moving forward despite obstacles come from?”

Dr. Weber took a moment to reflect and then answered, “It’s very clear that if you don’t have grit, and you start off life where I started, you would not be at this point. But all of us are human, there were many times where I was doing things and thought I should stop – I should just give up and move on to something else because life would be easier. But there are so many people who help you as you’re struggling along to become the person that you’re going to be and there are so many people counting on you to be that person that every time you think about stopping, there’s somebody standing near you, who loves you, who cares for you, that’s going to encourage you to keep pushing forward.”

Women's Voices in the Social Justice Movement: A Discussion on Leadership and Representation

The third conversation brought together a diverse group of women who have led the fight in advancing equity and justice in their communities and beyond. The panel included New York Times Bestselling Author, sociologist, and researcher Dr. Anna Malika Tubbs, President and CEO, Gathering for Justice, award-winning, internationally known civil and human rights leader and Chicana feminist Carmen Perez and Founder and President of Hyphen Archana Sahgal and was moderated by scholar-activist, faculty director, and professor of educational leadership and racial justice in the College of Education at California State University, Sacramento, Dr. Vajra Watson.

During the panel, the women described the unique challenges and opportunities facing women in the field of social justice, influential leaders in the space and how their personal experiences have shaped their approaches to leadership and advocacy.

“I lead through a feminist lens,” Perez described during the conversation. “I don’t just want to feminize the world and feminize politics – I want to feminize my work environment. What that looks like is the way in which we are in relationship to one another, by holding each other accountable through courageous conversations.”

When discussing how they want their legacy to be remembered, Sahgal said, “My legacy is wanting to do something meaningful with my time on this earth that really improves the material conditions for people of color in this country.”

Finding Your Voice: A Fireside Chat on Music, Sports, and Activism

The summit’s final dialogue featured a thought-provoking conversation with American rapper, DJ, actress and entrepreneur MC Lyte, moderated by Emotional Hygienist, Edutainment Specialist and Author Marianna Sousa. MC Lyte shared her insights on the power of art and sports to promote social change, drawing on her experiences as an artist and philanthropist.

“Music is a space where you’re able to use your voice not only to speak to the multitude of folks that exist in all regions of the world, but you’re also able to speak through music to your brother, sister, community and family,” said Lyte. “When we often talk about music and sports they go hand-in-hand because the community that we came from reared us in the same sort of ways. We dealt with the same sort of family living, upbringing, school systems and all of the things that are in desperate need of change – we all had the same experience. We are living out our forms of expression in different ways.”

American rapper, DJ, actress and entrepreneur MC Lyte

She also discussed the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in the music industry and how she has used her platform to promote gender equality and empower women and girls.

“It takes unity,” said Lyte. “It takes education and being able to unify and once we do that we are able to really put some things into effect and change occurs by us standing and sticking together.”

The event also included a spoken word performance by Inderkum High School Student Adiyah Obolu, meditation for mindfulness by Afro Yoga Founder and CEO Angie Franklin, music from The Futurelics and a networking luncheon for attendees and panelists. In addition, the Sacramento Kings made a public recommitment to Sacramento youth, health and art-based initiatives with a $20,000 donation to The Center at Sierra Health Foundation for their work with the Kings and Queens Rise Youth Mentoring and Sports League and $15,000 to Sacramento Area Youth Speaks. Attendees included approximately 200 high school and college students, community leaders and nonprofit partners from the Sacramento region.

The Power of Connection at the Sacramento Youth Detention Facility

On March 14, Kings female team members met with young women at the Sacramento Youth Detention Facility for an afternoon of mentorship, connection and motivation. During the session, team members and youth bonded over shared interests and inspirational women in their lives. The group also created paintings inspired by self-love, growth and goal setting led by local artist Aliyah Sidqe.

New ROOT Garden Opened to Encourage Healthy Eating

On March 15, the Sacramento Kings and Raley’s teamed up to open their 11th ROOT Community Garden at Nation’s Finest – Mather, which supports America’s military veterans through housing, health and employment services. The ribbon cutting included remarks from Kings Manager of Social Responsibility Veronne Clark, Raley’s Community Relations Specialist&nbsp; Felipe Espino and Nation’s Finest Program Support Specialist Kerry Navarrette. The event also featured giveaways of Kings swag, photos with Slamson and nutritional education resources for residents.

When asked about the importance of the garden, Navarrette said, “The ROOT Community Garden creates more sustainability at our facility and teaches veterans the skills need to plant and grow their own food. They’ll be able to grow anything they want thanks to Raley’s and the Kings.”

Construction of the garden began in Fall 2022 in collaboration with Northern California Construction Training. During the unveiling, Kings and Raley’s volunteers planted seeds that will soon supply fresh produce for the Nation’s Finest – Mather community.

Female Team Members Give Back at Women-Focused and Led Nonprofits

On March 16, female team members volunteered at local women-focused and ran nonprofit organizations that provide vital care and resources to the communities they serve. Team members served food to guests, organized facilities and played games with children. When asked about the impact of the Kings involvement:

Saint John’s Program for Real Change CEO Julie Hirota said, “It’s amazing that the Kings use their time to serve as an organization, showing our community their deep support. For the women and children in our program, it is great to see members of our community coming in to help out and support us - it further builds their confidence.”

WEAVE, Inc. Community Engagement Coordinator Joan Schubert said, “When we connect as pillars within the community, it reinforces that we are all here together. It is powerful when a well-known organization, like the Sacramento Kings, reaches out to us – it lets us know that we are doing something right.”

Wellspring Women's Center Executive Director Genelle Smith said, “It’s crucial for organizations such as the Sacramento Kings to put boots on the ground, get out and support their community. In doing so, they emphasize the essential programs and services local nonprofits such as Wellspring provide. We are so grateful to women from the Kings for sharing their time with us, immersing themselves into the Center and their hands-on participation in our nutritious meal program.”

This week, the Kings introduced the second installment of The Huddle, a unique dialogue using basketball to connect with youth. The latest edition features Inderkum High School Student, artist and poet Adiyah Obolu as she &nbsp;discusses her sense of purpose, work in social justice, involvement in the Sacramento community and more.

For more information on the Kings ongoing efforts to give back, visit Kings.com/Community.

The&nbsp;first Team Up for Change summit&nbsp;was held in Sacramento in 2019 (video recap).

In February 2020, the Kings and Bucks once again partnered and hosted the&nbsp;second Team Up for Change&nbsp;in Milwaukee. The NBA recognized the Kings and Bucks for the initiative by honoring the teams with the&nbsp;2020 NBA Inclusion Innovation Award, which spotlights a program across the league that advances inclusive practices.

In October 2020, the Kings, in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, and Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the&nbsp;third Team Up for Change&nbsp;virtually (full summit).

In January 2022, the Kings, in partnership with twelve NBA and WNBA teams hosted the&nbsp;fourth Team Up for Change&nbsp;which expanded and evolved to include The Huddle, and Week of Action featuring community activations across the country in each team’s market.

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RECAP: Kings Host Fifth Installment of Team Up for Change

Official Release

Sacramento Kings Host In-Person Summit at Golden 1 Center on Monday, March 13

Award-Winning Initiative Features Week of Action in Community and The Huddle Conversation&nbsp;

Today, the Sacramento Kings announced that the team will host the fifth installment of Team Up for Change, an award-winning initiative to inspire, unite, and activate around a call for social justice and racial equality. The 2023 Team Up for Change summit will take place during Women’s Empowerment Month and highlight the contributions of women leaders working in the social justice movement. This half-day event tips off a Week of Action in Sacramento from March 13 to 17 and the debut of The Huddle, a unique dialogue using basketball to connect with youth.

“The 2023 Team Up for Change Summit is an important opportunity to reflect on the steps we’ve taken over these past five years to address racial inequality and promote social justice through education, advocacy and policy change,” said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “This year, we are particularly proud to use our platform to amplify the contributions of women at the forefront of the social justice movement. The work continues, and the Kings remain as committed as ever to partnering with local leaders, advocates, and policymakers to promote positive community change.”

The Team Up for Change summit will bring together movement builders and changemakers across industries to discuss the intersection of sports, race, and the pursuit of more equitable communities. Programming is designed to provide insight into the social justice movement, strategies to combat systemic racism and practices to promote sustainable change by advancing equity and inclusion. The audience will be composed of approximately 200 high school and college students, community leaders and nonprofit partners.&nbsp;

The day will feature the following dynamic speakers: (in alphabetical order)&nbsp;

Team Up for Change Week of Action and The Huddle (March 13-17)&nbsp;

During the Week of Action, the Sacramento Kings will host events in the community focused on mentorship, career exploration, leadership training, and economic opportunity for future generations. These events and activations include connecting Kings female team members with young women at the Youth Detention Facility for mentorship, unveiling a community ROOT garden in partnership with Raley’s at Mather Veteran Village and volunteering at local women-focused and run nonprofit organizations. At the end of the week, the Kings will introduce the second young person to take part in The Huddle, a unique conversation using the game of basketball to connect the team with a young person engaged in transformative work in their neighborhood.

Team Up for Change is a social justice initiative formed in partnership between the Sacramento Kings and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018 in response to community tragedies impacting both teams – the police-involved shooting death of an unarmed black man in Sacramento, Stephon Clark, and the wrongful police stop of Bucks player Sterling Brown, violating his constitutional rights. Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé took to the court and made a commitment that the Kings would work alongside the community to help prevent future tragedies. The first Team Up for Change summit was held in Sacramento in 2019 (video recap).

In February 2020, the two teams once again partnered and hosted the second Team Up for Change in Milwaukee. The NBA recognized the Kings and Bucks for the initiative by honoring the teams with the 2020 NBA Inclusion Innovation Award, which spotlights a program across the league that advances inclusive practices.

In October 2020, the Kings, in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, and Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the third Team Up for Change virtually (full summit).&nbsp;

In January 2022, the Kings, in partnership with twelve NBA and WNBA teams hosted the fourth Team Up for Change which expanded and evolved to include The Huddle, and Week of Action featuring community activations across the country in each team’s market.

fifth-installment-of-team-up-for-change-to-focus-on-contributions-of-women-in-social-justice-movement

Fifth Installment of Team Up for Change to Focus on Contributions of Women In Social Justice Movement

admin

Today, the Sacramento Kings announced the calendar of events for the organization’s Week of Action within the fourth installment of Team Up for Change, an initiative focused on uniting, inspiring and activating around a shared commitment and call for racial equality and social justice. During the Week of Action, January 17-21, the thirteen teams participating in Team Up for Change will deepen connections with their communities by hosting micro-events for youth that spur dynamic conversations and promote healing with an emphasis on mentorship, career exploration, leadership training and advancing pathways to substantial economic mobility for future generations. These activations will take place in Sacramento, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Dallas, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Antonio in partnership with community organizations and local leaders.

The Sacramento Kings Week of Action will tip-off on January 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with participation in the MLK365 March for the Dream virtual program. In addition, the team will host a Jr. Kings Clinic.

“It is fitting that this year’s Team Up for Change Week of Action begins on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as we continue his legacy to create a more just world by further connecting with our community and providing youth resources and support needed for success,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “By linking our youth to positive mentors and essential tools, we are empowering them to generate impactful change.”  

On January 18, the Kings will team up with Gitanjali Rao, TIME, TIME for Kids and Nickelodeon's 2021Kid of the Year, who was honored for her innovations and the STEM workshops she conducts globally, for a virtual conversation with young Kings fans. Rao, who was also recognized as Forbes “30 under 30 in Science” in 2019 and TIME’s “Top Young Innovator,” will join local youth and Kings Kids Club members for a discussion about her journey, passion and impact.  The Daytime Emmy® Award-nominated Kid of the Year TV special, produced by TIME Studios, will return on Nickelodeon in early 2022 to spotlight a new group of inspirational young leaders who are making admirable contributions across social justice, science, education and more.

Then, on January 19, the Kings and partner Dialpad will announce the non-profit that will receive a Huddle Lab, a technology room for afterschool programs working towards developing the next generation of technology mavens. This space will include computers, software, and TVs with the goal to connect globally through Dialpad’s cloud communications platform.

On January 20, the organization and MENTOR California will host a virtual Fast Break Mentoring Session for youth to learn various components of the sport and entertainment industry from Kings team members. In addition, Kings Director of Player Development and Assistant Coach Rico Hines will provide insight into his career path.

On January 21, Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton will host a dynamic Sacramento high school senior in his hometown of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for a special look into his life as part of Team Up for Change: The Huddle, a unique dialogue between a young changemaker and an NBA or WNBA player. This discussion will explore how social injustice has impacted their lives, how they’ve navigated it and their personal journeys to make a lasting impact in their communities. The Huddle full discussion will debut later in the month.

Team Up for Change, first held in Sacramento in 2019, was started by the Kings in partnership with the Bucks and was born from each team’s encounter with injustice. In March 2018, the Sacramento community was rocked by the killing of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man, by police. Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé heard the cries for action, took to the court and made a commitment that the Kings, who strongly believe in the power of sports to bring people together, would work alongside the community to help prevent future tragedies.

In May 2018, the Bucks expressed steadfast support for guard Sterling Brown, who was tased and arrested in relation to a parking violation. The franchise committed to work with local leaders and organizations to foster safe neighborhoods and better the community.

In February 2020, the two teams once again partnered and hosted the second Team Up for Change in Milwaukee.  The NBA recognized the Bucks and Kings for their Team Up for Change initiative by honoring the teams with the 2020 NBA Inclusion Innovation Award. The award recognizes a specific innovative program across the league that advances inclusive practices.

In October 2020, the Kings, in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, and Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the third “Team Up for Change” virtually.

Video recaps of each year can be found here: 2019 summit in Sacramento, 2020 summit in Milwaukee and 2020 virtual summit.

For more information about the initiative, visit Kings.com/TeamUpForChange.

sacramento-kings-to-launch-team-up-for-change-week-of-action-january-17-21

Sacramento Kings to Launch Team Up for Change Week of Action, January 17-21

Katie Cracchiolo

Today, as part of National Mentorship Month, the Sacramento Kings announced activations to recognize, support and recruit mentors to drive meaningful change for young people.  

Sa“We are committed to helping create connections, providing networking opportunities and investing in relationships as a powerful tool for the next generation of leaders and change-makers,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “By amplifying the importance of mentorship, we are working to close the mentorship gap to enhance and inspire positive youth development, academic success and engagement.”

In January, as part of the Sacramento Kings Community Starting 5 Presented by Quick Quack Car Wash, the work of Improve Your Tomorrow will be highlighted. In the coming weeks, the nonprofit will also meet with members of the Kings franchise to discuss future opportunities for youth and mentors in their program.

Yesterday, as the Kings took on the Atlanta Hawks, the team recognized the impact of MENTOR California and encouraged fans to become more involved in young people's lives in the community by being a mentor.

In addition, the organization will team up with Future Explored, a nonprofit school that teaches adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities about media and film production, to provide a hands-on experience. The Kings digital team will offer a virtual workshop outlining video strategies and trends in the digital space as well as have individuals from Futures Explored shadow them at a game later this season.   

During the week of January 17-21, the franchise will participate in the Team Up for Change Week of Action, continuing to deepen connections with the community by hosting micro-events for youth that spur dynamic conversations and promote healing with an emphasis on mentorship, career exploration, leadership training and advancing pathways to substantial economic mobility for future generations. As part of that week, the organization will partner with MENTOR California to host a virtual Fast Break Mentoring event where youth will learn various components of the sport and entertainment industry from Kings team members. Additional details on the Team Up for Change Week of Action will be released prior to the activations. 

Later in the month, the organization will host a virtual training session with NBA Math Hoops, a comprehensive community program featuring a board game, mobile app, and curriculum that allows students to learn fundamental math skills through the game of basketball. Last season saw 64 teams representing 15 different regions displaying great sportsmanship, teamwork and energy. In August, Sacramento’s Team Unstoppable won the 2021 NBA Math Hoops national championship.  

Throughout the month, the team will be elevating the importance of mentoring through the team’s social channels. 

These activations are a part of the team’s ongoing efforts to support systems that uplift youth and strengthen communities. For the past four years, the Kings have teamed up with Build. Black. to support the annual Kings and Queens Rise Co-ed Youth Sports and Mentoring League, which seeks to interrupt violence by using sport as an agent for change by providing a positive environment for underserved youth through community building and sportsmanship. In addition, the Kings use their music studio to make top entertainment talent accessible to both mentors and mentees, including recording artist Montell Jordan, DJ Samantha Ronson, DJ Steve Aoki, all-female tap dance band Syncopated Ladies, rapper and producer Lupe Fiasco, female rapper and Sacramento native Saweetie, rapper Wale and more.

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Sacramento Kings Continue On-going Commitment to Mentorship

The Sacramento Kings, in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs will host the fourth installment of “Team Up for Change” to unite, inspire and activate around a shared commitment and call for racial equality and social justice.&nbsp;Through interactive and educational programming, the thirteen teams will focus on building with their respective communities and highlight the experience of young people through various programmatic elements that lift their voices.&nbsp;

“I am really proud of our collective efforts and our continued commitment to lift up our young Black leaders and invest in transformative and sustainable change,” said&nbsp;Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Through Team Up for Change we are working to provide the support and create an onramp for all youth to succeed, allowing young people to control their own narrative.”&nbsp;

“The Milwaukee Bucks are deeply committed to generating impactful change in our communities by empowering and championing&nbsp;our youth,” said&nbsp;Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin. “We are honored to continue our Team Up for Change partnership to advocate for transformational&nbsp;change in the fight for social, racial, and economic equity alongside many NBA and WNBA teams.”

This multi-faceted initiative has evolved to include The Huddle, an intimate conversation with a young person and NBA or WNBA player or coach and Week of Action (January 17-22) featuring community activations across the country in each team’s market.

“The evolution and&nbsp;impact of Team Up for Change speaks to the collective power our platforms hold,” said&nbsp;Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson.&nbsp;“It is an honor to work with so many organizations who are committed to racial equity, lifting up our communities, and inspiring&nbsp;tomorrow’s leaders. We look forward to this year’s programming from The Huddle to the Week of Action.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We are proud of the work we have done in Indiana to engage in our community and invest with greater intentionality to champion social justice and equality, and we are grateful for the steps the NBA has taken to support all teams in these efforts,” said&nbsp;Pacers Sports & Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Fuson. “We all recognize much work remains to be done, and this year’s Team Up for Change partnership once again gives us the opportunity to learn from each other as our work evolves.”

The Huddle will feature an intimate experience using the game of basketball to connect through conversation and raise awareness around the need for continued and sustained action. Teams will host a unique, one-of-a-kind dialogue with a player or coach and a local young person (age 13 to 21) to discuss their vision and desires for the future, sharing their sense of purpose personally and within their community and their concerns and priorities in achieving social and racial equity. The Huddle will be shared on via the team’s social channels throughout the season. Teams will also have the opportunity to host a local community viewing event to bring together high school and college-aged students, youth advocates and community leaders to watch The Huddle and facilitate a discussion around themes and work being done in the region

During the Week of Action, teams will deepen connections with their communities by hosting micro-events for youth that spur dynamic conversations and promote healing with an emphasis on mentorship, career exploration, leadership training and advancing pathways to substantial economic mobility for future generations. These&nbsp;activations will take place in Sacramento, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Dallas, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Antonio in partnership with community organizations and local leaders.

“The Dallas Wings are proud of our efforts and take great pride in raising awareness surrounding racial equality, social justice and providing vital educational&nbsp;programming to shine a light on this topic, as today’s young people continue to make a difference in this country and beyond,” said&nbsp;Dallas Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb. “We realize the work is just beginning and our team is fully committed to our local community and nationwide initiatives that will continue to push boundaries in order to combat systemic racism and social inequalities. It is our honor to work alongside these other first-class organizations and Team Up for Change to make long-lasting, impactful changes in the communities we call home.”

“We are proud to ‘team up’ once again with other NBA and WNBA teams to provide another platform for our community to engage in critical social justice conversations and education,” said&nbsp;Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO Len Komoroski. “We remain persistent in our efforts to utilize our resources to help create awareness around these important topics and drive racial equality in our community, as well as across the country. We are honored to “Team Up for Change” and stand with our NBA family to amplify the voices of those in need.”&nbsp;

"The Utah Jazz are excited to join with other franchises to Team Up for Change," said&nbsp;Utah Jazz President Jim Olson. "This shared commitment among NBA and WNBA teams will benefit youth in our communities and our collective efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion will make us stronger and better organizations.”

"The Orlando Magic look forward to working with our fellow NBA and WNBA teams to bring a voice to these issues,” said&nbsp;Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins.&nbsp;“As our organization works towards making change in the realm of social justice and equality, we know it will take a team effort to raise awareness and bring a platform to those impacted. We are honored to join in the Team Up for Change efforts and be a small part of facilitating the conversation towards transformative social change."&nbsp;

“Our platforms and united voices are powerful pathways to raise awareness and drive action to impact meaningful change, especially around racial and social justice issues in our communities,” said&nbsp;LA Clippers Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Community Relations and Player Programs Denise Booth. “We’re proud to join our colleagues to amplify the importance of equity and reform through the Team Up for Change social justice initiative.”“Spurs Sports & Entertainment is committed to creating, amplifying and championing meaningful and generational impact in the communities where we live, learn, work and play,” said&nbsp;Spurs Sports and Entertainment Chief Impact Officer Dr. Kara Allen. “We are honored to partner with Team Up for Change and our NBA family to accomplish our shared goals of showing up for racial equality and social justice.”

In solidarity with communities nationwide, the goal of Team Up for Change is to shine a spotlight on local and national movement builders, faith-based leaders, young innovators and trusted experts while lifting up voices for future engagement, and hearing from team leadership on franchise commitments, all with a focus on the intersection between sports, race and the pursuit of more equitable communities. Programming will be designed to provide insight into social justice reform, strategies to combat systemic racism and showcase voices driving sustainable change.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Team Up for Change,&nbsp;which was first held in Sacramento in 2019, was started by the Kings in partnership with the Bucks and was born from each team’s encounter with injustice. In March 2018, the Sacramento community was rocked by the killing of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man, by police. Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé heard the cries for action,&nbsp;took to the court&nbsp;and made a commitment that the Kings, who strongly believe in the power of sports to bring people together, would work&nbsp;alongside the community&nbsp;to help prevent future tragedies.&nbsp;

In May 2018, the Bucks&nbsp;expressed steadfast support&nbsp;for guard Sterling Brown, who was tased and arrested in relation to a parking violation. The franchise committed to work with local leaders and organizations to foster safe neighborhoods and better the community.&nbsp;

In February 2020, the two teams once again partnered and hosted the&nbsp;second Team Up for Change&nbsp;in Milwaukee.&nbsp;&nbsp;The NBA recognized the Bucks and Kings for their Team Up for Change initiative by honoring the teams with the&nbsp;2020 NBA Inclusion Innovation Award. The award recognizes a specific innovative program across the league that advances inclusive practices.

In October 2020, the Kings, in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, and Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the&nbsp;third “Team Up for Change” virtually.&nbsp;

Video recaps of each year can be found here:&nbsp;2019 summit&nbsp;in Sacramento,&nbsp;&nbsp;2020 summit&nbsp;in Milwaukee and&nbsp;2021 virtual summit.

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NBA and WNBA Teams Come Together to Host Fourth Installment of Award-Winning Social Justice Initiative “Team Up for Change"

Tracee Jay

On October 21st, the Sacramento Kings in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, and Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the third Team Up for Change summit, designed to unite, inspire and activate in and around our communities.

The teams continued in their Team Up for Change efforts by hosting a Week of Action!

From October 22nd to the 28th, the Kings organization engaged young adults ages 14-24 through a variety of activations in collaboration with community organizations and local leaders devoted to empowering the next generation.

The week kicked off with Team up with Sac State.

This event was a social justice and activism panel, where Sacramento State students acquired tips and strategies for effective activism and learned how to get involved deeper in their community.

The Kings teamed up with the Food Literacy Center to distribute recipe kits to students at Leataata Floyd elementary school and their families. Kings Team Members volunteered to hand out kits, and gave out some Kings swag as well!

The Week of Action continued with, Team Up for Teens with Sol Collective.

In partnership with Sol Collective, the Kings helped distribute Sol CARES teen kits. These kits were designed by youth for youth to support each other through these difficult times. Each box is themed, from movie nights to self-care, and the boxes are aimed at bringing joy to young people and remind them that Sol and Sacramento CARE!

The first round of youth were nominated by community members and they ,inturn, have a chance to nominate the next group of teens to receive the gift. The joy of sharing and caring will continue through the end of the year!

Through a series of videos, Sacramento Kings players and coaches thanked their mentors as part of MENTOR CA’s #ThankYourMentor campaign, which launches in November.

Following up, was the career exploration panel.

The Sacramento Kings and College Track collaborated to bring local Sacramento high school students a Virtual Career Exploration and Passion Finding Workshop.

Kings Chairman and Owner Vivek Ranadivé welcomed students and shared his career journey from Bombay to the NBA. Additionally, his son Andre Ranadivé and his wife shared stories and insights with students on their career pathways. Also, Kings staff members from a range of departments gave students insights on their positions within the organization and answered questions about keys to their success and more.

In addition to the Week of Action, the team also launched a two-part online content series focused on continuing the conversation around civic engagement, social inequity and allyship.

Sacramento Kings Vice President of Kings Academy and Professional Development Galen Duncan hosted a two-part panel discussion addressing social justice, allyship, voting and more. He was joined by Player Development Coach Rico Hines, Player Development Assistant Coach Lindsey Harding, Player Development Assistant Coach Bobby Jackson, Head Athletic Trainer Joe Resendez, forward Jabari Parker, guard-forward DaQuan Jeffries and guard Kyle Guy.

While the Week of Action is coming to a close, the Kings commitment to making a change in our community is ever-flowing. Be on the lookout for more community events in the future!

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