Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Harlem Lacrosse 

Harlem Lacrosse was founded on one unique guiding principle: share the Creator’s game of lacrosse with the ones who may not have access to it. From the days before our official inception, our model was already formed - building relationships and finding community between student-athletes and coaches, a nod to the Indigenous roots of the sport. Over the years, our theory of change, rooted in our mission and vision, has guided our annual priorities as we seek greater equity and access to a sport that has also changed before our eyes. In a parallel path, public educational institutions often fail to provide equitable resources for students in need, leaving many without the support necessary to succeed. Even when resources exist, they are often out of reach for those who need them most, creating barriers that widen the opportunity gap. This is where Harlem Lacrosse has the greatest impact - on and off the field. We recognized the lack of opportunity for those who desired something more and so we stood by our organizational commitment: more opportunities, more educational equity, more college access, more players, more visibility, more competition, and, above all, more sport. 

Our participants are students first and athletes second. Our model is rooted in using lacrosse as a hook to enable greater academic achievement, on-time grade matriculation, college access, and sustainable college persistence leading to college graduation.  Sport has the potential to be the great equalizer and Harlem Lacrosse is dedicated to making that happen. All of these factors lead to greater economic stability and growth over a Harlem Lacrosse participant's lifetime.  Harlem Lacrosse is not only about opening doors to the world of lacrosse and all that it offers, it is also about opening the doors to educational equity and walking through them at the side of our students with a commitment to them that endures for more than seven years, throughout the critical middle school and high school phase of life. We are proud of the changes we have made over the years to meet the rising tide of valuing cultural diversity and competency. Our staff has grown and diversified, our programs have deepened, and our fundraising strategies have extended our impact.

As a national leader in sports-based youth development, Harlem Lacrosse is committed to fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity, regardless of race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, citizenship, or socioeconomic status. Now more than ever, we are tasked with ensuring that every student who comes through our doors or onto our fields feels valued, seen, and heard, ultimately empowering them to reach their full potential.

In 2022, after several years of dedicated work committing to more diverse and equitable opportunities for our student-athletes and staff, we officially launched the Office of Equity and Talent, formalizing our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our commitment to addressing educational inequities and to fostering DEIB is reflected in our mission and our strategic plan as we chart our course into the future. Since the sport of lacrosse has not always been accessible, we are dedicated to leveraging our resources to level the playing field, breaking down barriers that systematically exclude those in the marginalized communities in which we live, work, and serve. 

Through strategic and intentional programming, partnerships, and policies we will:

• Ensure that our programs and our staff reflect the diversity of the communities we serve

• Create educational opportunities and spaces that uplift and welcome each and every young person who walks through our doors, ultimately creating a sense of community and belonging

• Hire, train, and educate all staff and volunteers on cultural competency, inclusive practices, and trauma-informed pedagogy that fosters respect and deep cross-cultural understanding

• Double down on our core value of being a learning organization where we continuously reflect on and make improvements to how we work and live in these spaces, being willing to change and evolve as we learn, grow, and absorb new information and perspectives.

Our commitment to DEIB is more than just a few words on a page, it’s an action and an ongoing promise to our students, families, staff, school partners, communities, board members, and the greater lacrosse community. We know what our students are capable of achieving and we will do everything in our power to continue to uplift them and uphold our promise through our own commitments and actions

Many fields. One team.

Harlem Lacrosse