Addressing Diversity Through Sports

Author and human rights activist Richard E. Lapchick — often described as the "racial conscience of sport" — will discuss “Addressing Socioeconomic Diversity: The Power of Sport to Heal” at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 in Harris Center Cinema.

Lapchick is a pioneer for racial equality and an internationally recognized expert on sports and social issues. He is committed to equality and believes that sport can be an effective instrument of positive social change.

The event, sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, is free and open to the public.

About Richard E. Lapchick

Lapchick was one of 200 guests of Nelson Mandela at his inauguration. Lapchick had led the American sports boycott of South Africa from 1975 until the end of apartheid.

He is a prolific writer and has spoken in the U.S. Congress, at the United Nations and in the European Parliament.

Lapchick created the critically acclaimed Racial and Gender Report Card, an annual study of the racial and gender hiring practices of the major professional sports and in college sports in the United States. He helped found several organizations, including a group of over 280 colleges and universities that created a first-of-its-kind degree completion and community service program. Nationally, the group’s athletes have worked with nearly 19.1 million students in school outreach and community service, teaching youth how to improve race relations, develop conflict resolution skills, prevent gender violence, and avoid drug and alcohol abuse.

He has been the recipient of numerous humanitarian awards.