Women's Ice Hockey Raises $9,522 for Three Racial Justice Initiatives

WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS -- Following the death of George Floyd, the longstanding racial
injustices in the United States came to the forefront of many people's minds. The women's ice hockey team decided to do their part in putting an end to these injustices by raising money for the Multicultural Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups through Education (BRIDGE), Minnesota Health Justice Network, and Campaign Zero organizations.
 
"Ice hockey traditionally has struggled with diversity and inclusion," said rising senior
Michaela O'Connor. "We recognized that our program benefits from a tremendous community and unique privilege, and we wanted to utilize those resources to bring monetary support to black voices and organizations."

The team started off by researching various organizations that worked to support people who have been historically discriminated against. They then narrowed down their search to an initiative in the Berkshire community, in Minnesota where George Floyd was murdered, and one with a national reach.

Once they found the organizations, the team put together an email list of players and parents from the last 25 years. This allowed them to spread the word about the campaign and also identify potential individuals/companies who were able to match donations. 

"The success of our fundraiser can be credited to our tremendous hockey community," said
O'Connor. "Being a part of a predominantly white team and sport, we recognize that we have an even greater responsibility to acquire a vocabulary and knowledge in order to educate ourselves and advocate for others.

Beyond fundraising, the team is committed to educating themselves and having conversations about different types of discrimination against minority groups in the United States. They have compiled a list of books, podcasts, shows, and movies that amplify black voices and can be used to guide discussions about race and privilege within their community.

"Collectively, we are researching the best ways to create a lasting impact on the sport and its players that goes beyond this activist period in our history," stated O'Connor. "As a team, we appreciate that the 'anti-racism journey' is inherently difficult, and we are taking the time to challenge long held biases within ourselves and our sport."

The fall will look different than it has in the past for the hockey team. They will not be able to practice as much as they normally would, and can therefore spend more time focused on learning how to make a positive impact in the Berkshire community and their communities at home as well.

"I was encouraged to see my team jump into action and begin honest conversations about how we can be better and make the sport of hockey a more welcoming place," said head coach Meghan Gillis. "Raising money was just the first piece of what needs to be done in order to make a difference. I was proud of the whole Williams women's hockey family (players, parents, and alums), particularly Michaela [O'Connor], Brynn [Puppe] and Caroline [Dignard] for stepping up."