This year’s Black History Month platform focuses on the representation of Black voices as we spotlight real-life experiences of athlete partners like Kahleah Copper, Erica Wheeler, Angel McCoughtry, Imani Dorsey, Kendra Harrison and Sarah Nurse. Inspired by these types of personal journeys and others like them, adidas is implementing sustained community programming to develop opportunities for Black women creators to tap meaningful routes to education, mentorship and growth.
A TRACK TO WHAT’S POSSIBLE
By working directly with the community to create more space for Black girls and women, adidas is honored to deepen its commitment to the cause of rewriting the outdated rules of Black expression, identity, and creativity. The launch of long-term initiatives will affect real and lasting change for historically underserved communities – in essence, rewriting the game forever.
CULTIVATE & B.L.O.O.M (BUILDING LEGACIES OUT OF MOVEMENTS)
In partnership with Impact Hub and Blavity.org, the adidas accelerator program for social entrepreneurs of color launches this spring. Through knowledge sharing and funding, we aim to cultivate a thriving ecosystem for changemakers to accelerate impact and deliver initiatives that address systemic barriers to sports for Black and Latinx communities.
S.E.E.D. (SCHOOL FOR EXPERIMENTAL EDUCATION IN DESIGN) PROGRAM
Born in partnership with Pensole Academy as an alternative to a university education for Footwear Design, the two-year program at the adidas Brooklyn Creator Farm taps industry experts inside and outside of the brand to teach, guide, and mentor students as they work on actual products that will go to market. The 2022 creator class is comprised of BIPOC women who will join a strategic pipeline of fresh talent stepping into meaningful roles at adidas HQ. Learn more about S.E.E.D.
ADIDAS COMMUNITY PLATFORM
A digital network for education, creative collaboration, and growth opportunities that pairs community members with mentors. Classes launching this month include three curricula led by Black women: Crowdfunding Decoded with Asha Grant demystifies crowdfunding for Black and Brown entrepreneurs, Protect your Energy with Alli Simon dives into the secrets of better self-care, and Building Grassroots Leadership with ReeCee Hollans examines the impact of grassroots athletics on the overall wellness of a community. Learn more about the adidas Community Platform.
ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS OF CHANGE
adidas continues to sustain its Honoring Black Excellence platform – a yearlong initiative celebrating the achievements of Black individuals, and Black culture as a whole. Throughout the year, we will highlight honorees from different sports, offering a platform to share their stories and give back. We kick off in February by celebrating and honoring our NCAA HBCU partners who have continued to invest in and build up their communities.
Ongoing initiatives to foster creative collaboration, innovation, and change include adidas Legacy, the Black Women’s Player’s Collective, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD foundation, Pharrell’s Black Ambition, United Negro College Fund scholarships, Blavity.org Growth Fellowship, Appetite for Change youth programming, and Wood U in partnership with Pensole Academy and the Iovine & Young Academy and the music program Sound Labs.
The story of adidas cannot be told without celebrating Black excellence, so we remain committed to uplifting, supporting, and celebrating Black history and creativity this month and every other month of the year.