ETHNIC DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EDAC)
COMMITTEE CONTACTS
Rob Dicks
Chair & District IX Representative
Sharell Lewis, ATC
Member (AL)
Ajaya Williams, EdD, LAT, ATC
Member (FL)
Janet Craft, ATC
Member (GA)
Nicole Jones, ATC
Member (KY)
Vernita Young, ATC
Member (LA)
LeKyndra Smith, ATC
Member (MS)
Larry Reynolds, ATC
Member (TN)
Dynesha Peterson (FL)
Graduate Student Member
Board Liaison: President Kira Berch (MS)
CONTACT EDAC
Graduate Student EDAC Member Application
Arnold T. Bell Memorial EDAC Graduate Scholarship ($2,000)
Call to Action Statement
Racial inequality and violence continue to have deep roots in this country. SEATA, as a member organization, implores all members to stand against racial injustice and the marginalization of black lives. True healing and resolution will require all of us to act and demand change. For this to occur, everyone must make a genuine effort to listen and understand with empathy. This includes appreciating the unique and necessary attributes each of us contributes to society and making a commitment to change the current demeanor thereof.
The well-being, rights and dignity of each and all humans are unalienable. We stand firmly on the side of justice and in support of active solutions that bring us together as a nation and fosters the appreciation and uniqueness of all people to include, but not limited to, a person's race, color, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, genetic information, age, disability, socio-economic or education background.
SEATA stands in support with EDAC in our resolve to intensifying the efforts for purposeful conversations and encourage action-oriented initiatives to combat racism and racial inequality:
● Collaborate with the SEATA Marketing & Communications Committee (MarCom) in the awareness and education of the process of nominations, both self and peer, for SEATA and NATA committee service, as well as honors and awards.
○ To include, but not limited to, the recruitment and engagement of ethnically diverse members for these committees and awards.
● Develop a webinar series for SEATA members on cultural competency awareness issues and related matters at the district, state, and/or local levels.
○ Work with SEATA’s Athletic Training Educators’’ Conference (ATEC) Oversight Committee to develop education session(s) on the above topics.
● Develop new SEATA EDAC website pages to include, but not limited to:
○ “EDAC Safe Space” page to include a confidential email address (edacsafespace@seata.org) for purposeful conversations, garner support, seek solutions, etc. for SEATA members.
○ EDAC Q&A page to include, but not limited to:
■ Series of common questions surrounding racism and discrimination
■ Best-practice in the reporting of racial incidents, encounters, discrimination, etc.
○ EDAC Resource page to include, but not limited to,
■ Promote cultural-based courses as
provided/recommended by the NATA PDC and/or EDAC
■ Provide a listing and links to resources to include, but not limited to those cited in the EDAC Twitter Takeover day.
COMMITTEE INFORMATION
1. NATA Committee
a) Composition. This district-based committee is comprised of ethnically diverse certified regular members. The committee may also have one qualified, ethnically diverse graduate student member who can commit to three years of service (if renewed) and who attends the annual convention. This is to ensure the graduate student member can participate in the committee meeting at the convention as well as conference calls. Proof of active graduate student status and letters of recommendation are required.
b) Purpose Identify and address issues relevant to ethnically diverse members. Advocate sensitivity and understanding toward ethnic and cultural diversity throughout the profession and the association.
c) Duties
i) Create an environment conducive to the positive growth and development of a multiethnic and multicultural membership.
ii) Increase the body of knowledge and disseminate information on key health care issues and conditions that affect physically active, ethnically diverse individuals (exertional sickling, lactose intolerance, at risk populations, Blount's Disease and hypertension).
iii) Advocate for ethnically diverse athletic training students through student mentoring and establishing grants and scholarships.
iv) Administer the Bill Chisholm Professional Service Award.
2. SEATA Sub-Committee
a) Composition (7 members). One Member from each state; of which, one shall be appointed as the Chair. Members are ethnically diverse certified athletic trainers who have been certified at least five years. In addition, the committee may have one qualified graduate student member who must be an ethnically diverse SEATA member able to commit to one year renewable term of service and able to attend committee meetings. Proof of active graduate student status and letters of recommendation are required.
b) Chair: The committee chair shall be selected by the SEATA President, in consultation with the District Director, State President(s), and/or committee members, and approved by the Executive Board. The Chair shall also serve as the District IX representative on the corresponding NATA committee.
c) Purpose. To identify and address issues relevant to ethnic and culturally diverse members. Additionally, address health care concerns affecting physically active individuals in these ethnic groups. Advocate sensitivity and understanding toward ethnic and cultural diversity throughout the profession and the association
d) Duties.
i) Study and investigate issues and concerns relevant to the ethnically and culturally diverse membership within the Association.
ii) Create an environment that is conducive to the positive growth and development of a multiethnic and multicultural membership.
iii) Increase the body of knowledge on health care issues and conditions that affect physically active, ethnically diverse individuals.
iv) Disseminate information and research relating to health care issues and conditions relevant to ethnically diverse populations (sickle cell disease, lactose intolerance, at risk populations, Blount's Disease, hypertension, etc.).
v) Advocate for the recruitment and retention of athletic training students. Establish and maintain grants and scholarships for ethnically diverse athletic trainers. Develop student mentor program.
vi) Identify and recognize individuals who have significantly advanced the provision of athletic health care to ethnically diverse, physically active individuals, or who have made significant contributions to the professional development and or advancement of ethnically diverse athletic trainers (e.g. Bill Chisolm Professional Service Award).
e) Polices: Committee members shall adhere to the general SEATA committee policies as stated in Section II.C.