A message from the Ivy League men's and women's head basketball coaches…
 
We have heard our student-athletes' and communities' call to action. The anger, disappointment and hurt felt across our country in recent weeks has been eye-opening and inspired important conversations in our communities. This is how we will stand together to proceed forward on the path of making progress for humanity. This is our promise.
 
The Ivy Promise represents the Ivy League basketball coaches' commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. While individually our platforms are influential, combined our platforms can be a catalyst for change. We are committed to achieving reform. We will stand against inequality and discrimination until all people are afforded the same opportunities in wages, healthcare, housing, education, and criminal justice. Together we will stand for justice, educate the people, and support our communities.
 
Our initial action items as a league are as follows:

• As the Head Coaches of Ivy League Basketball, we will use our status and privilege to be vocal advocates for equality for all.
• When possible, our programs will buy from local black and minority owned businesses to help uplift our communities economically and decrease the wealth gap.
• Our coaches and student-athletes will not only participate in All Vote No Play on November 3, but also use our voting power in local and state elections because that is where topics like criminal justice reform begin.
• We will use our games on MLK Day and during Black History Month in February to avidly celebrate Black history and Black excellence.
• Each Ivy League basketball team will donate to and volunteer with the local organizations that are working to address the specific needs of our community.

This is just the beginning.
 
Why is the Ivy Promise important to you?
STEVE DONAHUE: I believe it's show of commitment by the coaches to continue to work on racial injustice. This is not a one-shot deal but something that will be built into the fabric of the league going forward.
 
MIKE McLAUGHLIN: The Ivy Promise is important to me because it shows the commitment that we are making to bring about real change. It holds us as coaches and leaders accountable to put our words into immediate action.

What does it mean to be part of a league that supports this movement?
STEVE DONAHUE: I've been in the league for 26 years; this is the most important venture we have initiated during this time. I feel we can be a catalyst for other leagues and other sports to follow suit. I'm proud of the leadership by all the coaches to realize how important it is for us to stand up for what is needed and what is right.
 
MIKE McLAUGHLIN: It means that we are part of a league comprised of strong leaders who share core values rooted in the genuine desire to do what is right. The sense of unity and the call to action is extremely powerful. I love the sense of purpose all our coaches have had during this critical period.

What specific actions are you taking to hold yourself and your program accountable?
STEVE DONAHUE: The coaches and players in our program had already been having discussion about the action items in the Ivy Promise, and so I know we will be very cognizant of our efforts. So we will always have Election Day off from all mandatory basketball activities going forward. Leading up to elections, I will be promoting on social media information about election days, deadlines for voter registrations, and candidate information. MLK Weekend will used for awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement. We will make concerted efforts to support local Black-owned businesses, whether it's here in Philadelphia or on our road trips around the country. In addition, I will continue listening to my current and future Black players on how we can continue to fight against racial injustice.
 
MIKE McLAUGHLIN: Together our coaching staff and players will implement a plan of action that will be ingrained in who we are and what we do each and every day. A few specific examples include a shared focus on education through reading, listening, and reflecting on documentaries and books throughout the season, inviting guest speakers to talk to our team on a regular basis, supporting Black-owned businesses both on and around our campus as well as when we travel, and adopting two Philadelphia Elementary Schools where we will commit to a year of service and run a campaign to build new libraries at each of those schools through book donations.