Friendship and Partnership for CAC in NYC
September 22nd 2017. CAC ASK for Choice Strategist Nora Dooley reflects on our program in New York with South Bronx United.
I met Eric Saito, the Education Director at South Bronx United, when we were volunteers together in South Africa with Grassroot Soccer. Four years later we both find ourselves still committed to the spaces we chose next: organizations that believe in the potential of sport to be a powerful force of compassion and opportunity. We go about our efforts in different ways, holding onto the belief that collaboration and partnership can launch us into new and improved realities.
So in 2017 Coaches Across Continents and South Bronx United launched a new partnership, spearheaded by that friendship forged across oceans years ago. We held the first On-Field training in August with leaders from the ranks of SBU as well as other organizations around the boroughs of New York City.
Over the course of this week we played over 40 CAC sport for social impact games and covered a range of topics including immigration, racism, income inequality, gender, bullying, sexual health and stereotypes. We discussed different strategies of coaching in order to stimulate dialogue around relevant social issues in participants’ lives and communities. We also recognize that some players come to a soccer field to escape some of these issues – so we dug into methodology that allows coaches to create opportunities for players to solve their own problems on the field, developing skills that will transfer into other social spheres.
The players in SBU sport and education programs are from marginalized and vulnerable populations in the South Bronx. Many come from families of immigrants if they are not immigrants themselves. At a time in the US and the world when finding innovative and collaborative solutions to addressing serious issues of discrimination feels urgent, it is an honor to be able to do so with an inspiring group of New Yorkers, in a city I have called home, and with a dear friend.
Coming away from this week begs a few questions: How can we build more coalitions in the US – cross-community, cross-issue, cross-sector? How can sport for development programs hold more space in the conversations at the intersections of social justice, education and politics? How can we leverage sport as an artistic tool for activism, like so many already use visual arts, music, and literature?
Lots to think about, lots to do… back to work!
Coaches Across Continents Finalist At Beyond Sport
July 27, 2017. Coaches Across Continents was a finalist for the Beyond Sport Award for Global Impact of the Year in New York City. Representing CAC during the ceremony was Chief Executive Strategist Brian Suskiewicz. “We are extremely proud and humble to be recognized for our work in hundreds of communities on six continents, impacting thousands of coaches and millions of children annually to create legacies of change in their communities. We would like to thank our great corporate, governmental, foundation, and community partners. We also could not do the work that we do without our extremely dedicated staff, various advisory boards, supporting partners, and global citizens who all volunteer their time to create legacies around the world. Finally, I would like to thank all the tens of thousands of coaches and organizations that we have worked with who help to create social impact through sport in their communities, countries, and globally.”
Congratulations to Women Win for winning Global Impact of the Year at the 2017 Beyond Sport awards! We are proud to have a strong relationship with them having worked together to deliver sport for social development globally. Coaches Across Continents has previously won Beyond Sport Awards in the Best New Project (2009) and Corporate of the Year (2014) categories. This is the third Beyond Sport shortlist recognition for CAC since 2014.
Corporations, Governments, Foundations, and Community Based organizations from 95 countries have requested our Process Consultancy services to help them Design, Develop, and Implement sustainable Education Outside the Classroom Programs that use Sport for Social Impact.
Coaches Across Continents is the only global NGO providing year-round process consultancy resources. By using our Self-Directed Learning methodology, CAC mentors organizations through our Hat-Trick Initiative to create legacies of positive social change based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work and expertise has been recognized through 21 major global awards, invitations for dozens of international presentations and keynote speeches annually, published methodology, and CSR work in 20 countries for corporations and foundations.
Our impact on six continents has allowed for hundreds of communities and tens of thousands of leaders to be able to create positive social change for millions of children.
Congratulations to CAC partner Grupo Internacional de Paz from Colombia!
Beyond Sport Award Shortlist
July 24, 2017. Coaches Across Continents is shortlisted for the Global Impact of the Year at the Beyond Sport Awards. CAC has previously won the Beyond Sport Awards in 2009 (Best New Project) and 2014 (Corporate of the Year), and was also shortlisted in 2015 for the UNICEF Safeguarding Children in Sport award. The announcement of the winners will be on Wednesday evening at the One World Observatory in NYC. In attendance will be Chief Executive Brian Suskiewicz and Sustainability Strategist Adam Burgess.
Corporations, Governments, Foundations, and Community Based organizations from 95 countries have requested our Process Consultancy services to help them Design, Develop, and Implement sustainable Education Outside the Classroom Programs that use Sport for Social Impact.
Coaches Across Continents is the only global NGO providing year-round process consultancy resources. By using our Self-Directed Learning methodology, CAC mentors organizations through our Hat-Trick Initiative to create legacies of positive social change based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work and expertise has been recognized through 21 major global awards, invitations for dozens of international presentations and keynote speeches annually, published methodology, and CSR work in 20 countries for corporations and foundations.
Our impact on six continents has allowed for hundreds of communities and tens of thousands of leaders to be able to create positive social change for millions of children.
CAC Announces its Commitment to Bring Gender Policies to Life Through Sport
October 8th 2015. Coaches Across Continents (CAC) announced its Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting held in New York, 26th-29th September. In partnership with Hogan Lovells, CAC will expand its recently piloted female empowerment curriculum into a new community intervention, ‘ASK for Choice’, which will use sport for social impact to bring gender policies to life.
‘ASK for Choice’ will enhance personal and community responsibility and produce locally owned and relevant gender equity initiatives. CAC’s strategic year-round mentorship on curriculum and policy development will bring gender policies to life throughout communities by generating pathways to advance women’s and girls’ participation, leadership and rights in and through sport.
“While there are many policies and campaigns regarding women in sport, Coaches Across Continents has identified that these policies are not effective and have little impact at the community level,” says CAC’s founder, Nick Gates. “This is the optimal time to launch ASK for Choice because the FIFA Women’s World Cup captured the world’s attention and we can harness this global visibility to activate the voices of and increase the opportunities for women and girls.”
Women’s and girls’ rights are violated daily. Cultural norms and traditional stereotypes restrict their choices. Violence and harmful practices against them continue despite international treaties and protective legal documents. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has not yet been ratified by every country or globally implemented. Where laws exist, they are frequently not enforced or brought to life. Global conflict is exacerbating the situation as refugee women and girls are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and denial of their human rights.
Gender inequity in sport mirrors societal discrimination. Women and girls face multiple social and cultural barriers in sport, including gender stereotypes, restrictions on clothing and lack of safe spaces. In many communities, sports activities for girls are considered immoral or shameful and they risk violence for simply taking part. This creates huge obstacles to equal participation.
‘ASK for Choice’ will be implemented in 30 countries spanning five continents. 9,000 local leaders will be educated and certified and 1,000,000 children, including at least 250,000 girls, will play games from the ‘ASK for Choice’ curriculum. Through ‘ASK for Choice’, Coaches Across Continents will create an environment for the progression of Attitudes towards optimism and gender equity; the development of Skills for female leadership and participation; and the increase in Knowledge of rights and resources. This will lead to girls’ and women’s rights, educational, employment, entrepreneurial, financial, and health choices.
For additional information please contact: .
About Coaches Across Continents
Coaches Across Continents is a global leader in the sport for social impact movement. Our award-winning corporate partnerships and ‘Hat-Trick Initiative’ consist of comprehensive, year-round organizational development and sport for social impact education that focuses on local issues such as: female empowerment, including gender equity; conflict resolution, including social inclusion; health and wellness, including HIV/AIDS behavior change; child rights; vital life skills; and fun.
Our key to success is a unique Self-Directed Learning model that educates people to identify, address, and solve problems specific to their communities. We mentor organizations and empower communities to question harmful traditional, cultural, and religious practices; responsibly choose their own futures; and create sustainable change.
https://coachesacrosscontinents.org
http://facebook.com/coachesacrosscontinents
About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together 190 sitting and former heads of state, more than 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEO’s, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 3,200 Commitments to Action, which have improved the lives of over 430 million people in more than 180 countries.
In addition to the Annual Meeting, CGI convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States; and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. This year, CGI also convened CGI Middle East & Africa, which brought together leaders across sectors to take action on pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
CAC’s Clinton Collaboration
April 2nd 2015. We are delighted to announce that CAC has been awarded complimentary membership to the prestigious Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Membership is by invitation only and the application process is extremely competitive so our acceptance is confirmation of CAC’s position as the global leader in sport for social impact.
The Clinton Global Initiative convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. To date, members of the CGI community have made nearly 3,200 Commitments to Action, improving the lives of over 430 million people in more than 180 countries. This membership offers CAC a unique opportunity to interact with influential individuals across multiple sectors and industries. In the CGI community, today’s foremost thinkers meet tomorrow’s groundbreaking solutions. CAC will be able to share best practices, forge new partnerships, and instigate actions to achieve maximum impact and measurable social change.
Nick Gates will be attending the CGI Annual Meeting in New York this September. Since 2005, these meetings have brought together more than 180 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and prominent members of the media.
CAC’s Sarah Brown says “We are honoured to be welcomed into such an influential initiative. CGI is recognised as a community where innovative ideas are transformed into actions that achieve tangible results. This is perfectly aligned with CAC’s objectives. We are incredibly excited about this opportunity to share our expertise and contribute to the ongoing success of CGI, while also enhancing CAC’s global impact.”
CAC, Hofstra, Soccer, and Pelé
April 13, 2014. Another weekend, another speaking event for CAC Chief Executive Strategist, Brian Suskiewicz. A return home of sorts, Brian spoke at the “Soccer As The Beautiful Game” conference at Hofstra University in New York. Before CAC Brian was Associate Head Coach for the Hofstra Men’s Soccer Team from 2004 to 2009, winning three CAA titles during those five years. To say Brian was happy to return is an understatement, but throw a football legend into the mix and words fall short of expressing our delight in participating in this event.
Brian has a chance to share a few words with legendary footballer and global icon Pele
One of the big activities of the weekend, aside from gathering the all-stars of the sport for development field, was to give Pelé, THE Pelé, an honorary degree from Hofstra. His ties to the university go back to his days as a player as the NY Cosmos used to train at Hofstra in the 1970s. Pelé also spoke at the conference, noting that coming to play for the NY Cosmos “was the best thing in my life. It was the best decision to come to play in the United States.” He also noted that soccer is “the biggest family in the world.” Brian was honored to have a few moments to speak with Pelé and thank him for inspiring generations of footballers all over the world. A full video of his 5-minute speech on Friday evening can be found here.
Besides his brief meeting with the global icon, Brian spoke on two panels during this first ever event at his old stomping ground. The first focused on “Football, Pedagogy, and Integration,” and Brian capitalized on this opportunity to detail our philosophy of self-directed learning. Brian partook in this panel with other academics in the field, sharing ideas on how soccer can change the world, creating self-directed learners based on Dr. Judith Gates’ Chance to Choice educational theory.
The second panel shifted attentions to “Empowerment, Social Integration, and Soccer”, moving from the theoretical to the practical. Many familiar faces joined Brian as he spoke about our work on the field in more than twenty-five countries around the world. Friends and partners of CAC who also participated include Mary McVeigh from Soccer Without Borders – who we are working with in Uganda this month! – as well as representatives from streetfootballworld, Love Futbol, and America Scores. The interested crowd asked dozens of questions varying from implementation practices to supporting global charities.
We are proud to be part of events like this, honored to be among such stellar figures in our field of not only international development but also international football – nice to meet you Pelé! Moreover, we are proud because we are the global leaders in sport for social impact and these platforms allow us to spread awareness for what we do with the incredible local organizations we are so grateful to call our partners.