Showing posts with label ABIS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ABIS. Show all posts

Sunday, June 09, 2024

Advancement of Blacks In Sports Announces Additions to Key Leadership Roles

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Advancement of Blacks In Sports (ABIS) announced that Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree as chief operating officer (COO), Dr. Renae Myles Payne as chief administrative officer (CAO), and Jonathon Leach as director of operations & strategy.

Founder and CEO, Gary Charles, expressed how happy he was of the progress and growth of ABIS since founding the organization in 2020 during its annual Champions & Legends Fundraising Weekend May 31 – June 2 at the MGM National Harbor. Since its inception, ABIS has grown its membership to include over 450 coaches, athletes, and industry executives. This growth has allowed ABIS to hire staff and outsource staff to support the daily operations of the organization. The new staff additions bring in a wealth of leadership experience to align with the ABIS mission and work of the organization.

"We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to our team,” said Charles. “Their expertise and passion for our mission will help to continue growth in our organization, and raise funds for our programs."

As the COO for ABIS, Wicker McCree leads the strategy and planning to ensure the vision and goals of the organization are achieved. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, specifically college athletics at the NCAA Division I and II levels. After 14 years as the director of athletics at North Carolina Central University, Wicker McCree retired and launched WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching LLC where she provides executive coaching, leadership and cultural assessments, and strategic planning for corporate and higher education organizations. Wicker McCree also works with Duke Sports Science Institute as an associate director providing sports performance services to athletes of all levels. She serves on several community and national boards including WeCOACH, NC Sports Hall of Fame, the Gillis-Jones Institute on Ethics and Leadership, and is the chair of the Durham Sports Commission.

Myles Payne recently joined the ABIS team as the CAO and leads the daily operations of the core business functions of ABIS. She brings over 26 years of leadership experience from intercollegiate athletics at Division I and II. She is the current president of MOAA (Minority Opportunities Athletic Association) and CEO of RMP Capital Consulting LLC focused on financial and human capital and organizational development in intercollegiate athletics.

ABIS is also happy to add Jonathon Leach as director of operations & strategy. Leach will assist the organization with administrative support, process improvement, and strategies for efficient and effective operations. Leach has worked in higher education for more than 20 years and served as chief of staff for the Department of Athletics at North Carolina Central University. He currently serves as the Director of Operations for Campus Enterprises and Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at North Carolina Central University.

ABIS is a non-profit organization with a mission to boldly advocate for a culture of equity and inclusion that results in the advancement of racial, economic, and social justice for all in sports. Founded by Gary Charles, New York’s Godfather of Grassroots Basketball, in September 2020, ABIS partners with notable African Americans and social justice activists and allies. Its members include coaches, administrators, and athletes at all levels of sports, academicians, civil rights attorneys, social justice influencers, diversity, equity, and inclusion allies and advocates. Learn more about ABIS here: https://weareabis.org/

Saturday, September 19, 2020

New Non-Profit Organization Launches To Advance Blacks In Sports

Founder, Gary Charles, fosters partnership with high profile individuals to launch Advancement of Blacks in Sports, Inc. (ABIS), a newly established non-profit organization with a mission to connect and inspire people to boldly advocate for racial, social, and economic justice for Blacks in sports. ABIS works to foster a culture of equity and inclusion in all aspects of sports that lead to racial, economic and social justice.

Since the tragic death of George Floyd, Mr. Charles has meticulously identified and partnered with a unique collaborative team of leading African American professionals in sports, music, law and business to assist in the normalization of equal rights and fair treatment of Black people. Such notables are Ben Crump, Esq. (Civil Rights Attorney), Chuck D. (Public Enemy), Tracy McGrady (Former NBA), Marquis "Bo" Porter, former MLB Player/Bo Porter's Future All-Star Development Academy), Penny Hardaway (Former NBA/current Head Coach University of Memphis), Leonard Hamilton (Florida State University, Men's Head Basketball Coach), Dawn Staley (Former WNBA, Hall of Famer Women's Head Coach University of South Carolina, and National Champion), C. Vivian Stringer (Hall of Famer and Women's Basketball Coach at Rutgers University), Michael Hausfeld, Esq. (Top Human Rights Lawyer in the U.S.), Richard Lapchick (Human Rights Advocate) and Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., the Largest Minority and Women-Owned Law Firm in the U.S., (Heather Palmore, Esq. and Noemi Baez, Esq., General Counsel).

Keys to Victory for ABIS include eliminating inequitable hiring practices, improving economic opportunities for minority-owned business at sporting events, generating knowledge of Black History, promoting voter registration and participation, and protecting student-athletes. The Advancement of Blacks In Sports, Inc., currently integrates, but is not limited to the following sports: Basketball, Track and Field, Baseball and Football.

Mr. Charles notes, "The passing of John Thompson means another American icon has passed away. One of the best ways to honor him is for us to continue the legacy he started. We have not been fully embraced in the board room, have not been offered a substantial amount of head coaching positions, and have been consistently blocked out of revenues earned through contracts specific to athletics. It's time for advancement!"

ABIS is particularly focused on the development and holistic growth of the intercollegiate athlete and the recent (NCAA), Federal and State legislation that affects academic and athletic experiences of student athletes. Overall, ABIS seeks to align with student-athletes and other professionals who are willing to use their voices for the betterment of all Blacks in sports.

For more information: weareabis.org/