The Chicago Sky are proud to team up with retired NBA trailblazer, Jason Collins, to host a Diversity and Inclusion celebration, presented by Avison Young with Orbitz and Barefoot on July 8, 2017.
“We are thrilled to have Jason Collins join us for our Diversity and Inclusion night and events,” said James Burda, Sky Vice President of Sponsorship Marketing. “Jason uses his platform as a professional athlete to encourage inclusion for all people across all walks of life, and that is something we pride ourselves on as well.
Collins became the first active male athlete in any of the four major American professional leagues to publicly announce he was gay in a Sports Illustrated story following the 2012-13 NBA season and has since become an advocate for inclusion in athletics. In April 2014, Collins was featured on the cover of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Now serving as an NBA Global Ambassador and diversity advocate, Collins will join the Sky in Chicago, June 6-8 to take part in community events. The first private event will be a meet and greet panel with Collins and Imani Boyette to discuss, “Facing Adversity Through Sports,” moderated by Stephen Bardo on Thursday, July 6. The event will be hosted at Midtown Athletic Club and The Hotel at Midtown in Chicago, which is finalizing a $75 million renovation to transform its historic property into America’s largest athletic club and 55-room boutique hotel.
“Jason Collins and Imani Boyette have deeply influenced global culture by using sports as a vehicle to promote inclusion for all,” said Joelle Beranek, Events Director at Midtown. “We are very proud to serve as a venue to amplify their message in partnership with the Chicago Sky.”
On Friday, July 7 from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., Collins will participate in a Breakfast Networking, Meet and Greet event with the LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The event will be hosted at Nacional 27, 325 W. Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654.Tickets can be purchased here. Collins will also take part in a Q&A and Meet and Greet session with members of the Center on Halsted and Sky fans on Saturday, July 8 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in the Skyline Room at Allstate Arena. Directly following this event, Collins will be available to media in the Press Conference room at Allstate Arena from 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
*All events are open to the media—RSVP required.