“Sport can change the world when it welcomes and empowers all people.”—Athlete Ally

TAKE ACTION!

Share your voice and join our cause as we explore the expressive intersectional possibilities and combined power of art, sport and the rituals of collective singing for positive social change.

Engage with one of our IX Calls-to-Action in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX

Take Action with the SJSU Institute for the Study of Sport, Society, and Social Change (ISSSC)—the birthplace of the Olympic Project for Human Rights. Support and engage with their programs and services that build on the legacy of social change, particularly as it pertains to the equity of women, girls, non-binary, and transgender athletes in sport.

Take Action with Athlete Ally: Access to sport is a human right. In this onslaught of anti-transgender legislation and misinformation, let’s amplify the message that there is real power in sports and sports has the power to change lives. “When LGBTQ+ people are systematically excluded from sport, they are denied not only an essential component of their physical, mental and emotional well-being, but also access to a community and the social support.” —Athlete Ally

DONATE

Sign the #DemandIX Pledge to fight for equity and justice by advocating for strong Title IX protections and enforcement and engage with the below calls-to-action and athlete activism resources in solidarity with players’ support for Black Lives Matter and other actions that promote the notion they are more than an athlete.

Why sing FEELING GOOD right now? Read our FAQ & Media Kit. 

 

Feeling Good FAQ

Key Calls-to-Action

  • JOIN The Equity Project & Sign The Equity Pledge powered by the Women’s Sports Foundation

  • ENGAGE with the Same Game Tookit by Canadian Women & Sport: a step by step online toolkit to help you bring your gender equity vision to life

  • PARTICIPATE in Rally the Vote—a nonpartisan coalition of sports franchises teaming up to register fans to vote and participate in elections.

Key Title IX Resources

 

    #WordsToAction

    MORE RESOURCES

    Dear Singer and Supporter,

    As former college athletes, we have noticed that we do not sing much together for women’s sports. And while there has been some progress since the enactment of Title IX, we continue to see disparities in access, pay equity, working conditions, leadership and coaching opportunities, sports coverage (and the largely invisible work of athlete activists in women’s sports). These systemic barriers and conditions especially reverberate for Black, women and non-binary athletes of color, who live at the intersection of racial injustice and gender inequity. We have also noticed the well documented ways in which collective singing can help to cultivate joint perspectives, charge our courage, and touch each other at a distance (as we have especially seen during this time of physical distancing.).

    This is why, since 2019, we have been inviting athletes, sports fans, students, and community allies to join us in singing ‘Feeling Good’—the song made famous by Nina Simone—as a call-to-action, an anthem of solidarity for women’s athletics and a more racially just, equitable community.

    Why sing ‘Feeling Good’ right now? It is important to remember that Nina Simone sang about “a bold world, a new world”—in 1965, at a time of oppressive and violent systemic racism and personal struggles with domestic abuse and bi-polar depression. The invitation is to be emboldened by Simone’s radical example in the midst of our own unprecedented moment and need for a different kind of future.

    Our project acknowledges, celebrates, and builds upon the deep legacy of Black athlete activism at SJSU, the birthplace of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). This was a movement founded by Dr. Harry Edwards and Ken Noel that culminated in the iconic protest of 1968 Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos. We are continuing to see the impact of Carlos’ and Smith’s Olympic gesture with the WNBA, NBA and other athletes and supporters taking actions in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We are also seeing the impact of BIPOC and LGBTQ athletes in women’s sport—from the groundbreaking work of 2x Olympic gold medalist Wyomia Tyus’ in the ‘68 Olympics, Volleyball’s Flo Hyman, Tennis’ Althea Gibson, Billie Jean King, Serena and Venus Williams, WNBA’s Maya Moore, Soccer’s Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe and others to the amazing work of our student athletes today.

    We launched FEELING GOOD on February 2020 in concert with National Girls and Women in Sports Day as part of a San Jose State women’s basketball game halftime flash sports singing performance with the help of hundreds of SJSU Choir members hidden in the stands and the amazing Spartan Marching Band. After the singing, fans were invited to visit our partner affinity group tables to learn more about how to get involved and engaged with the movement of equity and inclusivity. Hundreds have added their voices both live and in person as part of a cycle of art and sporting events. Our thanks to all who added their voices and to all of our collaborators who have made this project possible. Check out our inaugural highlight reel to learn more about the work that we are doing together.

    We invite you to share your voice and join our cause as we explore the ways in which art, sport, and collective singing rituals can embolden our voices to work towards a more equitable and inclusive community—both on and off the playing field.

    In song and solidarity,

    Mel Day & Dr. Akilah R. Carter-Francique, PhD 

     

    @wallofsongproject  E: Melissa.day@sjsu.edu  /  mmd.ca

    @doctafrancique / franciquesportandeducation.com