What does it mean to be a sports advocate? To answer, I sat down with Sterling Ta’Bon. Here’s what I learned.
McElwain: What do you do, and what is your mission when you do your advocacy work?
Ta’Bon: I am the director of the Diamond-Stackz Classic Basketball Tournament in Sumter, SC, which is an effort to advocate and invest in youth mentor programs and increase positive networks for youth. My role as Health Schools Manager with Cairn Guidance Educational Consultation entails an opportunity to use whole-child tools to equip educators on a national scale.
McElwain: What is your advice to anyone seeking sports and advocacy work?
Ta’Bon: I honestly believe that without advocacy, there are no sports. The nature of sports is spiritual, physical, and emotional, and leading a great sportsperson, both viewer and participant, to grasp the essence of advocacy. With the market and viewership projecting towards direct access to many of the sport’s world’s brightest stars, players will have to be well-versed and have to take positions that defend or support causes or others. I say start small and local for those who want to get into sports advocacy.
McElwain: Where do you see sports and advocacy going in 30 years?
Ta’Bon: In 30 years, I do think sports will have progressed in advocacy, especially since the influence of sports betting, social media, and economic opportunities that affect student-athletes. I pray that sports will be used as a unifying method that triggers physical responses in humans, not only feeling good but also accomplishing good outside the sporting frameworks. Using games and sports to teach lessons of anti-ism and friendship can renew the progression of many lives in our community. What’s more important about the future is that we currently advocate for viewers, athletes, and media to seek the full truth in their reason for loving the sport, and with the whole truth, we strive to create networks that increase the love for others.
McElwain: What is a highlight of your career that you’ve been proud of?
Ta’Bon: The highlight of my career so far is our ability to maintain our DSC Basketball tournament for ten years. Something that started so small has become a community event drawing athletes from G-League players, Overseas Pros, and high-level D1-D3 and raising funds to donate to our Diamond Effect Mentor Leadership Youth Non-Profit.
McElwain: Where do you see yourself in 30 years?
Ta’Bon: I hope that in 30 years, I can see that the communities I have had the opportunity to work and engage with have become stronger, healthier, kinder, and wiser. I think history repeats itself, but we will only know if we choose to seek history now. Sports will still be an intricate part of our journey for social justice, and for many, unfortunately, it may still be the only avenue where they are seen and given influence.
*****************
If you’d like to learn more about our efforts in Sports Advocacy through grassroots non-profit work, please contact demyouthlead@gmail.com. If you’d like to know about using whole-child tools to equip students and parents with body confidence and self-esteem information, connect with www.cairnguidance.com.
