Diversity in the sport of sailing

US Sailing Leadership Forum, The Starboard Portal will host a panel addressing
“Increasing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Sport of Sailing” on August 4, 2020 at 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT. The featured panelists are Karen Harris, Lou Sandoval, Captain Bill Pinkney, and Joe Harris, with the conversation moderated by Ayme Sinclair.

The panel will discuss ways sailors and sailing organizations can implement strategies now to increase awareness and opportunities within their sailing organizations and programs for individuals from diverse backgrounds and people of color.

The panelists will provide practical guidance for conducting outreach in your local communities and best practices on fostering relationships with community leaders and influencers to help you achieve your diversity, equity and inclusion goals. The general public and officials from yacht clubs and other sailing organizations are encouraged to attend.

Ayme Sinclair: Moderator
Vice President of the National Women’s Sailing Association
Member of the Leadership Team for Women Who Sail, the largest online group of women sailors in the world.
Nominated for prestigious awards including the Bill Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Award and the United Nations SDG Media Summit Leadership Award
CEO & Founder of Sinclair Social
CEO of Women Who Sail
Spokesperson, United Nations

Karen Harris:
Immediate Past Commodore of Jackson Park Yacht Club (JPYC)
President of JPYC Foundation
Vice Chair of the US Sailing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Illinois Health and Hospital Association
2017 One of the Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Chicago, Crain’s Business Journal

Lou Sandoval:
Commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club
Former Chair of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
US Sailing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Member
Member of the National Board of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, Sail America, and the Recreational Boating Leadership Council
Navigated over 17,000 nautical miles.

Captain Bill Pinkney:
First African American to solo-circumnavigate the world
Captain of the first African American team for the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac (1994)
Captain of the Freedom Schooner Amistad
Former Commodore of the Belmont Yacht Club
Served in the U.S. Navy for eight years
1999 Chicagoan of the Year, Chicago Magazine

Joe Harris:
Manager of Sailing, Chicago Park District: Leads programs including the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing program, Endeavour Chicago Sailing
Former Sailing Program Director: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club; St. Francis Yacht Club; Columbia Yacht Club
Former High School Sailing Coach (Lake Forest High School, Grosse Pointe North High School, California Maritime Academy): Multiple ISSA National Championships
2014 US Sailing Community Sailing Award: Outstanding Adaptive Sailing Program
1998 US Sailing W. Van Alan Clark Jr. Trophy – National Sportsman of the Year Award

To tune in live or watch the replay, click here.

Source: US Sailing