A new task force charged with ensuring zero tolerance of racism and expanding access to water polo for all – especially people of color, was announced today. Jointly commissioned by USA Water Polo Board Chair Mike Graff and CEO Chris Ramsey, the Racial Equity and Reform Task Force will be co-chaired by legendary athlete and board member Brenda Villa, and Chief High Performance Officer John Abdou. Appointments to the task force will be announced in the coming weeks, which will include water polo representatives from diverse experiences, backgrounds, geographies, and skill sets.
Among the issues expected to be addressed by the task force recommendations are:
ZERO TOLERANCE: Ensure USAWP organizational processes at national, regional and club levels are free from racism and bias, and include meaningful remedies to safeguard accountability
ACCESS: Increase participation in water polo among communities of color, including partnerships with clubs and other relevant organizations that will expand access to water polo aquatics facilities
EDUCATION: Provide curriculum and other educational tools to promote a water polo community of respect, dignity, and fairness to all, especially people of color
RESOURCES: Expand resources for the promotion of tolerance and accessibility within the sport of water polo
About Our Co-Chairs:
Considered one of the greatest women's water polo players of all-time, Brenda Villa led Team USA to medals in four different Olympic Games culminating with gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The longtime captain of Team USA, Villa helped bridge the gap from the pioneer era of women's water polo prior to inclusion in the Olympic Games to the present-day success that has seen consecutive Olympic titles.
Since her retirement from international water polo, following the 2012 Olympic Games, Villa has pursued another passion, giving back. She is the co-founder of Project 2020, a non-profit organization committed to providing aquatic opportunities for those in under-resourced communities. Working within the Northern California community of East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, Villa paired high school coaching with Project 2020 efforts hoping to mirror the offerings she received during her youth where sports were available regardless of financial status.
A senior executive at USA Water Polo, John Abdou oversees the senior national teams and the Olympic Development Program in addition to events, coach and referee education. Working in unison with Senior National Team Head Coaches Adam Krikorian and Dejan Udovicic, Abdou leads in implementing their technical vision throughout ODP and the USA Water Polo pipeline system.
Formerly the associate head coach for men's water polo at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Director/Boy's Head Coach of the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, Abdou also spent five years coaching at Bucknell University, the last two serving as Head Coach of both the men's and women's programs. Prior to moving to Lewisburg, PA he served as the Boys and Girls Water Polo Coach at Burbank High School while also teaching US Government, AP Psychology, and History classes. Abdou earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, earning his undergraduate degree in sociology, where he also played varsity water polo. He earned his Master's degree in Education from Bucknell in 2009.
About USA Water Polo
USA Water Polo, Inc., is the national governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic program as well as 20 championship events annually, such as Junior Olympics and Masters National Championships. With more than 50,000 members, USAWP also is the sanctioning authority for more than 500 Member Clubs and more than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the sport throughout the U.S. It fosters grass-roots expansion of the sport, providing a national system of affiliated clubs, certified coaches, and officials.
Greg Mescall
Director of Communications, USA Water Polo
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