Team ESPN, the company’s corporate outreach initiative, is celebrating Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr.’s eternal message of equality with a series of panel discussions on the topic of diversity.
The program is called “Content of Character” and features four community events in locations across the country.
ESPN’s employee resource group P.U.L.S.E (People United to Lead Serve and Excel) is helping to present the initiative. The mission of P.U.L.S.E is to recruit, mentor, promote and retain African American employees across ESPN Inc.
The initiative kicked off on Thursday, Feb. 2, when Team ESPN visited the Joel E. Smilow Boys & Girls Clubhouse in the Bronx.
More than 100 middle school and high school students who were on hand for a memorable afternoon.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith – a native New Yorker – moderated the panel of speakers, which included ESPN vice presidents, directors and managers from various units of the company.
The discussion was centered around the three important themes of ESPN’s “Content of Character” program: “Education,” “Equality,” and “Generation Leadership.”
“The program was set up to educate youth on the importance of Dr. King’s messages and how they have evolved over time to still impacts today’s youth,” said Tavia Fisher, manager, corporate outreach.
Panelists discussed how Martin Luther King Jr.’s words impacted their own lives and how his messages of acceptance and equality are relevant in today’s society.
Students had the opportunity to engage with all of the panelists, including Smith, as part of an interactive Q&A session.
On Friday, Feb. 10, Team ESPN continued its “Content of Character” initiative at the South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, N.C. in front of more than 400 students.
Team ESPN’s “Content of Character” program will continue on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley in Pacoima, Calif., before the grand finale in ESPN’s hometown of Bristol, Conn., on Thursday, February 16 at the Bristol Boys & Girls Club.
