Skaters worldwide unite to promote diversity in figure skating

sus2850

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Not sure, I guess it was posted already sonewhere, but here is Jeremy Ten‘s coming out post

 

Sylvia

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Not sure, I guess it was posted already sonewhere, but here is Jeremy Ten‘s coming out post
Thank you for posting the link to Jeremy's Instagram, @sus2850! :) I didn't see your post until just now and yesterday decided to post his link & copy out his touching post in Jason Brown's thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ntly-for-each-individual.108372/#post-6012003

Re-posting here from the P/C fan thread...

Uploaded to Skating ISU's YT channel 2 days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd56j9NSAs0
GET YOUR PRIDE ON! 🏳️‍🌈
We're celebrating #Pride2021 with a BIG surprise in the latest episode of The #UpAgain Show!
Join us for the journey of Brittany Bowe, Olympian, world record holder and 6-time world champ Speed Skating legend! Alongside Guillaume Cizeron, whose name is iconic in Figure Skating as an Olympian who holds multiple European and World Champion titles in Ice Dance.
Together, Brittany and Guillame discuss the joys, challenges and experiences of being an LGBTQ+ athlete in the world of Skating and meet a VERY special guest...
 

Sylvia

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USFS Fan Zone article about this fundraiser tomorrow:
Excerpt:
... Diversify Ice ambassadors like Pooja Kalyan will be performing and participating in the Skate Raiser virtually as she trains for a competition. Kalyan, who is of Indian origin, has been working with Diversify Ice since 2018 and has been assigned to the Athlete Advisory Committee this year to support the mission of the foundation.
"By being a part of Diversify Ice, I hope to show not only kids of Indian origin that they can become high-level figure skaters, but also other kids of minority ethnicities," Kalyan said. "The performance I'll be submitting is 'Meditation' from [the opera] Thais. It's peaceful and powerful, and I hope through that I can show what the growing attention to diversity in figure skating will gain."
Kalyan believes diversity in figure skating is evolving. As more young skaters become involved with events like the Skate Raiser, it is her hope they will see an increase in inclusion and representation reflected.
"This event isn't just about skaters of color coming together," explained Kalyan. "It's about everybody coming together as a community to appreciate differences and promoting that for younger generations."
The Diversify Ice Foundation has their big fundraiser SKATE RAISER '21 planned for June 19 - event info: https://diversifyice.org/events/

RSVP now for Diversify Ice’s upcoming Juneteenth SkateRaiser in person [at Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Maryland] or virtually. During the SkateRaiser, there will be performances from underrepresented rising champions in figure skating, community Learn-to-Skate opportunities, panel discussions, live music, dance classes, art exhibits, and giveaways.

Also, please do not miss the panel discussion addressing racial disparities in figure skating and ways we can make it a more inclusive sport. As a part of the event, there will be resources to support coaches in uplifting skaters of color in partnership with the Professional Skating Association (PSA) Virtual Summit.

So join us on Juneteenth, Saturday, June 19th from 1-5 pm EST for the Juneteenth SkateRaiser featuring Olympian, Tai Babilonia, National and International Champions Rohene Ward, Pooja Kalyan, Eliot Halverson, Megan Williams-Stewart, Emmanuel Savary, Nathan Truesdell, and Jacob Sanchez. Also, look out for performances from our rising skaters, Zuri Davis, Samuel Eckenroed, Rainah Taylor, Alexa Gasparotto, Laylah Powell, and many more.

In addition, for skaters who will be joining in person, exciting seminar sessions will be offered on the afternoon/evening of Friday, June 18th, led by renowned National and International coaches:

Choreography – Rohene Ward

Spins and Steps — Eliot Halverson

Skating Skills and Drills – Nathan Truesdell

Performance Quality – Tai Babilonia

Alvin Ailey Dancer – Renaldo Maurice
You can buy a ticket to attend virtually or in person at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD, and/or donate to support their cause:
 

Sylvia

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Some videos from the Diversify Ice Foundation's Juneteenth SkateRaiser are posted on their IGTV page: https://www.instagram.com/diversify_ice/channel/

Eliot Halverson and Adam Rippon will have an IG Live chat via USFS' Instagram account today (Thursday, June 24) at 5 p.m. Eastern time: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQeh4WFBInw/
ETA the link to watch their video conversation: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQhK0b-HwnV/

"To support an inclusive environment this Pride Month we [Skate Canada] are sharing personal stories from our skating community. Below is the story of two-time world champion Eric Radford.":
From Team Canada:
 
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Sylvia

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From Skate Canada today - Christopher Mabee, "2007 Canadian Men’s Silver Medallist, shares his story and experience with inclusion in figure skating and some of his adventures he’s been on in recent years" (3 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzAUSLO1c6U

Re-posting here (from Amber Glenn's thread in GSD) ... local Dallas TV news article & embedded video featuring Amber Glenn and Timothy LeDuc & Ashley C-G for Pride Month:
 
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Sylvia

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USFS' July 20th press release:

U.S. Figure Skating announced today the recipients of the 2021-22 U.S. Figure Skating Community Development Grants. Ten member clubs and programs have been awarded $2,000 each for the purpose of developing community-based programs and events designed to attract, involve and inspire new generations of figure skaters.
...
The 10 recipients, and how they plan to use the grants, are as follows:
  • Central Virginia Skating Club will sponsor students to participate in the Richmond Ice Zone Learn to Skate USA program through a partnership with Richmond Behavioral Health. The organizations’ goal is to provide a healthy activity for disadvantaged children and adults and introduce figure skating as a fun, healthy and rewarding sport for all.
  • Chicago Youth Foundation will engage more than 1,110 low-income youth with “Figure Skating on Your Block,” where youth will learn the foundations of ice skating and then choose to pursue figure skating or ice hockey. The program will include after-school educational enrichment classes, social-emotional training and fitness classes.
  • District Impact Skating Club in Washington, D.C., will secure coaching for its synchronized skating teams to help reduce the cost of team skating. The synchro program is open to all Fort Dupont Ice Arena skaters who passed Free Skate 1 or pre-preliminary moves in the field and higher.
  • Diversify Ice Foundation plans to provide people of color in low-income schools in the Greater Washington, D.C., area opportunities to learn, grow and advance in the sport of figure skating. The grant will cover ice time, equipment, coaching, mentoring and tutoring to help increase the visibility of figure skating within economic and culturally diverse communities.
  • Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena will continue to grow its Kids On Ice Learn to Skate USA program. The program impacts nearly 5,000 children each year, many of whom reside in underserved communities in Washington, D.C. It introduces them to ice skating, giving them the opportunity to pursue figure skating, synchronized skating, ice hockey and speed skating.
  • Friends of the Kelly Rink in Boston will expand its existing Learn to Skate USA scholarship program to provide full scholarships to 25 students who were unable to participate in the 2020–21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. The scholarships will be provided to students who are 5 and 6 years old.
  • Lockport (N.Y.) Skating School plans to increase its weekly Learn to Skate USA sessions to target ages 4 and up from lower-income families to promote social welfare and physical fitness. The program plans to use the grant to cover program fees for up to 50 new skaters, including safety helmets.
  • Project ICE plans to increase skating opportunities to Hispanic, Latino and African American communities in Chicago’s North Shore neighborhood. The program will partner with schools to identify families that would benefit from private or group lessons. The program will also provide transportation and coaching.
  • Scott Hamilton Skating Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, will provide free Learn to Skate USA lessons to reduce inclusion and financial barriers to youth ages 8 to 14. The program will also celebrate academic achievement by awarding an additional free skating camp to those displaying good school grades and attendance.
  • The Skating Club of Phoenix will use the grant to award 25 families with two-month Learn to Skate USA packages, which include a weekly lesson, skate rental and eight public skating passes for children in foster care. The club will also research additional fundraising opportunities to increase the number of children who can receive free skating lessons.
 

Sylvia

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Ami Parekh, the first figure skater to represent India at the World Championships (2007 & 2012) tweeted info/dates for 3 panels she has organized to take place next month: https://twitter.com/AmiParekh1/status/1419269088799379456
Save the date! Inviting children from all over the world to virtually meet talented, globally-based, South Asian national and international figure skaters, including several 2022 Winter Olympic hopefuls. This interactive Zoom panel is free, and will be conducted in English&Hindi.
Her FB also includes a link to register for free: https://www.facebook.com/463223120370575/posts/6546454142047412/
Please help spread the word! :)
 

Sylvia

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The skater from India was inspirational, & it was nice that Ted Barton interviewed him too.
... the interview with Tated was really good!
Barton's interview with Priyam TATED (will be 18 in October) in Courchevel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcMCDDAKxp0

ETA his bio from the South Asian Figure Skating Panel Series registration form:
Priyam is a roller and ice skater in India and has won 7 international medals and 34 national medals. He is the Indian Junior National Champion/medalist for past 8 years. His sister Divya and brother Pratham are also Indian national and international roller and ice skaters. He is the recipient of 2019 India's National Child Award, conferred by the President of India (Pradhan Mantri Rasthriya Bal Puraskar) for outstanding achievements in sports. He has lead a Virtual Workout Series for 200 days during the pandemic previous year and also conducted an Online Workout Competition all around the globe which included 500 participants from 6 countries. He is a brand ambassador for Uplift A Child International, supporting education for the underprivileged. He mentors younger skaters and plans to go into a career in emerging technologies. He is currently getting ready for ISU JGP this season.
Follow Priyam on: Instagram: @priyam_tated
 
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