Joe Smith – East Coast Manager
In our most recent Staff Spotlight, meet Joe Smith, our newest member of the CHJS team working as our East Coast Manager!
Where are you from/where did you grow up?
College Park / PG County Maryland
What sports do you play?
Basketball and Distance Running
What city has the best sport vibe? Why?
I wish I could say DC, but sadly, no. The city I experienced the best sports vibe in is Southampton, UK. Southampton FC is integrated into every part of society and the fanbase is incredibly loyal. After spending some time in the city with a couple of my brothers, walking into the football stadium gave me goosebumps. #UpTheSaints
As great as sport is, what do you wish would change?
That young athletes could be kids, not commodities.
What do you wish all coaches knew?
Athletes might not remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel. (Shout out Maya Angelou!)
What goals do you have for CHJS?
- Listen to, learn from and build relationships with folks using sport for social change up and down the East Coast
- Build a local community that contributes to the growth of the healing-centered sport movement. Connect the local community with the broader movement.
- Engage international partners to support SBYD learning in the US
- Target the larger, often oppressive, systems that hold inequity in place to push for change. Seek to garner more resources and policy-level change to address sport access and health inequities.
- Train lots and lots of coaches
Are there any events or training you want people to know about and attend?
NSLA+ CHJS Health and Fitness PLC Virtual Sessions
(Please register for each session individually)
PLC Session 1: Kickoff – Sports-Based Youth Development
July 31st, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST, Registration here
PLC Session 2: Healing-Centered Sport
August 21st, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST, Registration here
PLC Session 3: Bias In Coaching
September 18th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST, Registration here
PLC Potential Make-Up Session (If necessary)
October 16th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST, Link will be provided in email
Any fun facts you want to share?
I am the God Father to my brother and my family (the Smith’s) roll deep.
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play as compared to boys. As boys/men, what are we doing to be allies to changing this?
East Coast Coaches! Want to work with Joe and help him reach his goals of social change up and down the east coast? Reach out to him today at jsmith@chjs.org