RISE AT SUPER BOWL LV Empowering Athletes and Bridging the Equity Gap

RISE’s Sixth Annual Super Bowl Critical Conversation features NFL players addressing the question, “What comes next?” after our nation experienced a reckoning on race and an unprecedented wave of athlete activism this past year. We explored how athletes can maintain the momentum for change that swept the nation in 2020, and best tackle issues of systemic racism, civic engagement and racial and social inequities that the global pandemic has further exposed. The event features a conversation with Kansas City Chiefs All-Pros Patrick Mahomes and Tyrann Mathieu, and a panel of Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees in Trey Flowers (Detroit Lions), Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos) and Andrew Whitworth (Los Angeles Rams). CBS Sports Lead NFL Reporter Tracy Wolfson moderates both discussions, which also feature RISE CEO Diahann Billings-Burford.

RISE’s First National Super Bowl Leadership Program Celebrates Students and Athletes Fighting for Racial Equity

The RISE Super Bowl Leadership Program culminated on Tuesday, Feb. 2, as students from across the country gathered virtually with NFL players and executives to present their months-long projects offering solutions to address inequities in education. Jesse Washington of ESPN’s The Undefeated moderated a discussion with Denver Broncos Safety and Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee Justin Simmons, Los Angeles Rams Vice President of Community Affairs and Engagement Molly Higgins and four students from the program that outlined specific plans of action to reduce racial inequities and injustices in the education system. In November 2020, RISE began engaging this group of collegiate and high school students and athletes to further educate and empower them to advocate for meaningful change in their communities.