An open letter from our Founder and President, Shawn Robinson

June 22, 2020

Supporters and Funding Community:

We have a diversity and inclusion problem in America that contributes to, and perpetuates, systematic racial injustice. I founded the nonprofit Orange Arrow Players Association (OA) in 2013, and in 2015 began to address this problem by: 

Intentionally weaving diversity and inclusion into our organization’s fabric, as demonstrated by our diversity in color, gender, geography, perspective, economic status and age at every level of our organization, which includes our board, staff, volunteers and youth that the organization serves; and, 

Designing a program experience that prepares student-athletes to become leaders and contributors in their communities, and purposefully creating safe spaces for the authentic opportunity to build cross-cultural relationships and break down barriers between races.

However, often leaders in the funding community choose to give their financial contributions to organizations that solely support “underserved” — code-word for poor and black — people. This is necessary; however, it is imperative that organizations like Orange Arrow are included in funding strategies so that diversity and inclusion efforts are viable.

Of particular note, as a black man leading a diverse non-profit: 

I was told by a black-led foundation that if we became too diverse, they could no longer support us. 

I was told by a white-led foundation that they could not support us because we didn’t primarily serve underserved youth. 

The grant requirements for most foundations ask for non-profits to prove they are serving “at-risk” or “underserved” youth. 

The language corporations have used in the recent announcements of millions of dollars of funding outlines that the funding is for “the Black community” or “the underserved.” 

Who and what do these leaders picture when they envision efforts to address systemic racism? Who do they view as the recipients of these grants? 

From my experience, they either see black-led organizations solely helping black children or white-led organizations solely helping black children (e.g., Save the Whales). Where are the leaders who are intentionally supporting building cross-cultural relationships and not just viewing underserved communities as the problem? I am absolutely not saying that organizations who focus on working with black children are an issue; rather, this is a call to action that a multi-faceted approach is necessary to solve the huge issues of racial disparities and injustice. 

We at Orange Arrow purposefully bring together “under-served” and “regularly-served” and “over-served” youth and adults so that the barriers between those groups are broken, real relationships are formed, and real change occurs. When these OA-involved power brokers learn and live diversity and inclusion, they lead significant change in their families, schools, communities and our world. 

If corporations and foundations continue to solely invest in programs that inadvertently keep us segregated and overlook organizations that have a track record of breaking down these barriers, we will not solve our diversity and inclusion problem in America. 

How are we going to have significant change if funding only goes towards the continuation of segregation?

That can no longer be the only approach. 

With Love,  

Shawn Robinson

Founder & President of Orange Arrow Players Association 

“When a sport becomes your job, it changes your relationship with it.”

Desmond Palmer is a former student-athlete who ran hurdles at the University of Pittsburgh. He grew up in Pickerington, Ohio, which is about twenty minutes away from Columbus. He first showed up for track and field practice in eighth grade and was one of the tallest kids, so his coaches recruited him for hurdling. He caught on quickly and was a district finalist in the 300 meter hurdles the very next year for Pickerington North High School.

Desmond continued to be successful through high school, becoming a three-year national USA Track & Field Junior Olympic Champion. As a sophomore, he was the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) champion in the 300 meter hurdles, and he was the regional champion and state runner-up in the 300 meter hurdles and district champion in the 110 meter hurdles as a junior. During his senior year, Desmond was the OCC district, regional, and state champion, winning four gold medals at the Ohio State Championships in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, and the 4x2 and 4x400 relays. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Ohio during his senior year, an award which recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement, and exemplary character.

His success followed him to the University of Pittsburgh, where he continued his hurdling career. He was an eight-time All-American athlete, between indoor and outdoor hurdling events. He won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in the 400 meter hurdles as a sophomore and again as a junior. He broke and still holds the Pitt record for the 400 meter hurdles, in addition to his countless other individual and relay championships. Off the track, he worked as a Marketing Intern for Orange Arrow during the spring of his senior year.

Desmond graduated from Pitt in the spring of 2017 with a degree in Media and Professional Communications. His Moment of Truth came during the summer following graduation. He found himself at a pivotal moment in his life: should he continue hurdling or hang up his spikes and pursue a career? After talking to family and friends, Desmond decided to stop hurdling and begin his professional life, outside of sports. After reflecting on his athletic career, Desmond felt satisfied with his accomplishments and was ready to move on to the next chapter of his life. He says that “When a sport becomes your job, it changes your relationship with it.” Even though he enjoyed the grind of competing, he was ready to form an identity outside of sports.

Today, Desmond works as a Marketing Coordinator for a hospital in New Jersey. He says he misses being an athlete and would be open to considering competing again, but, for now, he is satisfied with his life and career. He gives advice to friends and family who are competing in track and field, and he may one day work as a coach if the opportunity arises.

Desmond’s Moment of Truth story is not one of injury or loss, but, rather, one of considering which path is best for you, whether that be in athletics or in life. Desmond urges young student-athletes to always work hard and follow their dreams and aspirations, but also to make informed decisions for yourself and your future. He says that it is very possible for athletes to pursue their sport while also developing their professional life, whether that is through an internship, career, graduate school, or any other avenue for off-the-field development. It is important to know your limits and know when it is time to pursue a different path, off of the track.

Wow, firstly, that's impressive! Second of all, that sounds like a great idea, if you haven't done so already – that being said, sorry this reply is so late.

And you don't have to end at redirecting people to petition videos. Direct them to fan videos, tribute videos, AMVs, brella's wonderful videos (sorry, I'm all out of links tonight), and any- and everything about Young Justice and GLTAS! Some people have Tumblr covered, I've kind of got Twitter covered every now and then, but if you've got YouTube covered, then that's excellent! We need all the help we can get.