In football, a team breaks the huddle when it is ready for the next play. In a talk at 澳门六合彩开奖结果鈥檚 Rogers Center for the Arts on Wednesday, March 20, former New England Patriot Matthew Slater encouraged the audience to take the same approach when addressing social injustices.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done too much drawing of lines in the sand,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淎nd we have just totally given up on our ability to let our guard down and meet someone halfway. Don鈥檛 just stay huddled up. Don鈥檛 just keep living our lives the way we have been living them. We need people who are called to action and I don鈥檛 see why it can鈥檛 be you guys.鈥�
Slater, a former captain for the Patriots and a three-time Super Bowl champion, came to 澳门六合彩开奖结果 to give the keynote address for Unity in Diversity Days. He touched on the importance of harnessing personal motivations, building relationships and finding the right time to interject oneself in pursuit of a more just and equitable society.
鈥淎s you lead and think about being difference makers in the spaces you are operating in and leading people to a higher ground, it starts with how you connect with people,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淚t takes a willingness, in a lot of cases, to be uncomfortable; it takes a willingness to say sometimes you don鈥檛 know; to ask a question or to sometimes be quiet and listen.鈥�
澳门六合彩开奖结果鈥檚 Unity in Diversity Days is held once a semester and features events, workshops and discussions that bring the College community together to share knowledge and strategies, designed to enhance awareness and understanding of accountability and intersectional justice.
Slater was introduced by a defensive back on the 澳门六合彩开奖结果 football team, president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and member of the During a Q&A following Slater鈥檚 talk, Jackson asked the 10-time Pro Bowler who recently retired what advice he had for students in the audience facing similar pivotal moments in their lives.
鈥淚t is important to do it in community,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 do it alone, no matter who you are.鈥�
Slater was also asked how younger generations can be taught to make a difference in the world and create safe environments. 鈥淲hen people ask me 鈥榃hat can I do?鈥� I tell them it starts at home,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淲e all have a family and it looks different for everyone. We all have a responsibility to teach our young people the right things in the right way.鈥�
As a thank you, 澳门六合彩开奖结果 head football coach presented Slater with a 澳门六合彩开奖结果 football jersey with Slater鈥檚 name on it and the No. 18, the same number Slater wore with the Patriots. Following the event, Slater posed for photos with attendees before meeting with 澳门六合彩开奖结果 football student-athletes, coaches and staff in Cascia Hall.
