TicketsThe next Black Student Athlete Summit is May 23-26, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. If you are interested in attending, please contact Chad Allen in the Academy. For more information visit bsasummit.org and read firsthand accounts of our student-athletes’ experiences at previous BSA Summits.
D.J. Taylor, Football:
2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit
“My time at the BSA Summit was very enjoyable. It was especially important as a transfer into a new college that’s big into helping black student athletes. I’ve learned a lot and was very intrigued.“
Jordan Young, Football:
2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit
The BSA summit was an amazing event where I got to mingle and learn from other superior athletes and coaches from other universities all over the world. We had very informative panels on a daily basis where we covered important worldwide topics like cannabis, LGBTQIA, and women’s rights just to name a few. I also got a chance to hear from a NBA all-star Matt Barnes who motivated me to behave like a pro. During my time in LA we stayed in one hotel with every school that was there which allowed us to meet new people and connect with each other which can and will be a big benefit in the long run. I also got a chance to sit inside meetings of successful entrepreneurs and listen to their stories on how they got to where they are today and how we can take steps to do what they did. I got a chance to exchange information with them and pitch off ideas to them as well.
Alexandria Hunter, Women’s Track & Field:
2022 Black Student-Athlete Summit
This summit was a true eye-opener that I am so grateful to have been a part of. After attending the summit, my goal for this upcoming year is to encourage and get more black student athletes to attend the next BSA summit. For my future career it is crucial to create different friendships with new people. Networking was an important part of some guest speakers. One speaker spoke about his journey to being involved with the meta world. He explained that his college roommate made it to the NBA while he began working for a shoe company. But later he received a call from his former roommate with a job offer. His connections brought him to this place. Teaching us that it is not what you know but more who you know.
As an African American woman I understand the feeling of getting overlooked. At this summit I learned as black student athletes we need to start to use our voice to advocate for ourselves in the sports community in our school. Black student athletes are a larger percentage of sports yet on a daily basis we face much adversity. I realized that we can use our voices when dealing with this adversity. Whether that be coaches, trainers, or even spectators. We can stand strong and use the platform we worked so hard for to speak our truth and be heard.
The summit revealed that the percentage of black student athletes is growing and there is always strength in numbers. Some skills I learned from the summit was how influential developing plans could be. It allows the planner or planners the ability to envision what they desire to be completed. Then the reader has different proposals that will be able to get them there. All that's left is to maintain their goals and retain their success.
Being around over 600 relatable black student athletes was refreshing. We all clicked and meshed well while doing the icebreakers. Mostly talking about mental health and financial stability while being enrolled in college and even after graduating.
Unknowingly, many student athletes deal with the same mental health issues give or take certain details. Coming to this realization made me feel supported and encouraged me to take my personal mental health and the mental health of others more seriously. I developed a plan to better the mentality of student athletes at my university. I decided to reach out to the mental health services on my campus and speak to them about what I learned. For too long has the decline in mental health of student athletes gone unnoticed. I explained that it would be beneficial for students to feel heard even if it feels that it is not possible to voice their feelings outwardly.
This summit has not only taught me about how to be successful but also how to use my voice and I will take full advantage of this by using my voice not only for my school but for everyone that I can reach and educate.
The Black Summit was a big eye-opener for not only me but all the athletes there. I got the opportunity to meet some amazing people and speakers who taught me a lot about their life experiences and future situations I may run into. I also had the opportunity to have individual conversations with different speakers about the importance of knowing your worth of not only being an athlete, but a human being with feelings , dreams, and goals. I would highly recommend every athlete to attend the Summit if they have the chance. You most definitely will learn more about yourself and learn how to communicate with other people and athletes that you may need in the future.
D.J. Taylor, Football:
2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit
“My time at the BSA Summit was very enjoyable. It was especially important as a transfer into a new college that’s big into helping black student athletes. I’ve learned a lot and was very intrigued.“
Jordan Young, Football:
2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit
The BSA summit was an amazing event where I got to mingle and learn from other superior athletes and coaches from other universities all over the world. We had very informative panels on a daily basis where we covered important worldwide topics like cannabis, LGBTQIA, and women’s rights just to name a few. I also got a chance to hear from a NBA all-star Matt Barnes who motivated me to behave like a pro. During my time in LA we stayed in one hotel with every school that was there which allowed us to meet new people and connect with each other which can and will be a big benefit in the long run. I also got a chance to sit inside meetings of successful entrepreneurs and listen to their stories on how they got to where they are today and how we can take steps to do what they did. I got a chance to exchange information with them and pitch off ideas to them as well.
Alexandria Hunter, Women’s Track & Field:
2022 Black Student-Athlete Summit
This summit was a true eye-opener that I am so grateful to have been a part of. After attending the summit, my goal for this upcoming year is to encourage and get more black student athletes to attend the next BSA summit. For my future career it is crucial to create different friendships with new people. Networking was an important part of some guest speakers. One speaker spoke about his journey to being involved with the meta world. He explained that his college roommate made it to the NBA while he began working for a shoe company. But later he received a call from his former roommate with a job offer. His connections brought him to this place. Teaching us that it is not what you know but more who you know.
As an African American woman I understand the feeling of getting overlooked. At this summit I learned as black student athletes we need to start to use our voice to advocate for ourselves in the sports community in our school. Black student athletes are a larger percentage of sports yet on a daily basis we face much adversity. I realized that we can use our voices when dealing with this adversity. Whether that be coaches, trainers, or even spectators. We can stand strong and use the platform we worked so hard for to speak our truth and be heard.
The summit revealed that the percentage of black student athletes is growing and there is always strength in numbers. Some skills I learned from the summit was how influential developing plans could be. It allows the planner or planners the ability to envision what they desire to be completed. Then the reader has different proposals that will be able to get them there. All that's left is to maintain their goals and retain their success.
Being around over 600 relatable black student athletes was refreshing. We all clicked and meshed well while doing the icebreakers. Mostly talking about mental health and financial stability while being enrolled in college and even after graduating.
Unknowingly, many student athletes deal with the same mental health issues give or take certain details. Coming to this realization made me feel supported and encouraged me to take my personal mental health and the mental health of others more seriously. I developed a plan to better the mentality of student athletes at my university. I decided to reach out to the mental health services on my campus and speak to them about what I learned. For too long has the decline in mental health of student athletes gone unnoticed. I explained that it would be beneficial for students to feel heard even if it feels that it is not possible to voice their feelings outwardly.
This summit has not only taught me about how to be successful but also how to use my voice and I will take full advantage of this by using my voice not only for my school but for everyone that I can reach and educate.