BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is excited to announce that RISE to Win, a national nonprofit, will present a featured session at the 2022 NFHCA Annual Convention.

Session leaders, Soyini Ma’at and Dr. Collin Williams, will lead “Creating a Shared Understanding of Diversity” to Annual Convention attendees on the morning of Thursday, January 13. Through an engaging and interactive workshop session, Ma’at and Williams will help coaches explore key terms associated with race and diversity and how these terms are socially constructed.

RISE to Win is a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice, and improve race relations. Through partnerships and programs, they inspire leaders in sports to create positive change on matters of race and equality.

The in-person session will be the first in a three-part workshop that will be led by RISE. “Creating a Shared Understanding of Diversity” will be followed by two virtual workshops, “Understanding our Identities” in February and “Equality vs. Equity” in March.

Soyini Ma’at

Soyini Ma’at is a forward-thinking leader and Mom-preneur with a track record of success in business, training, curriculum design, measurement, and evaluation. In 2012 she started a homeschool co-op in Bergen County, New Jersey and she is formerly the Education Director for the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program. She is the co-founder and executive director of Bright Learning Academy, an education nonprofit providing customized tutorial services focused on closing the achievement gap for children. Ma’at is also the co-founder of Quantum Power Skills, a transformative diversity, equity, and inclusion management consulting firm. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from Emory University and holds a master’s degree in educational leadership. Ma’at currently resides in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Collin Williams

Dr. Collin Williams is an educator, author, and researcher addressing race and other diverse issues through the lens of sports. Prior to his more than three years with RISE, he worked in social responsibility and player programs for the NBA and as assistant director of player engagement for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. A co-author of The Miseducation of the Student-Athlete: How to Fix College Sports, Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and Africana studies and his doctorate in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania.

2022 NFHCA Annual Convention

The 2022 NFHCA Annual Convention incorporates NFHCA business meetings, on-field educational sessions, a variety of speakers, the NFHCA Awards Dinner sponsored by AstroTurf, and multiple opportunities for attendees to connect with their colleagues. The NFHCA Annual Convention is where coaches from all levels gather yearly to connect, learn, and grow.

The Annual Convention is held in conjunction with the NFHCA Winter Escape Showcase — a holistic recruiting experience — and the NFHCA Divot Golf Classic.

The 2022 NFHCA Annual Convention will take place between January 11 — 13, 2022 at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary in Lake Mary, Florida. NFHCA members can register online.