Newton Consultancy Group to Present to Pioneer Student-Athletes

The Alfred State athletic department will work with Shawn Newton from the Newton Consultancy Group to provide student-athletes with education on racism. Newton will present a program entitled Racism: Breaking it Down and Breaking it Apart.

This workshop is designed to enhance people's awareness of the phenomenon of racism and the methods and techniques to dismantle it. The workshop provides a very introductory level of knowledge, emphasizes values and offers skills to eliminate racism on a personal and institutional level. Participants gain knowledge of the theory, history and current manifestations of racism in our society from political, economic, social and psychological perspective. Lectures, group discussion and readings are used to assist with learning.

Daniel Roberts, one of the co-leaders of the department's listening tour this fall, is excited about having Newton share his program to Pioneer student-athletes. "With the uprising of social injustice to marginalize communities in the past few months, conversations and attitudes about racial inequities in America are crucial. Many leaders across the country have been working toward change for decades. Shawn Newton is one of the leaders who advocated to dismantle racism, while educating others on the history of racism, what it means to be anti-racist vs non-racist and consequences of systemic racism in the United States. Shawn's knowledge will educate our student-athletes by dissecting racism, energize them to become allies to those who are marginalized, and show how to advocate beyond hashtag activism by listening to voice of the oppressed. His knowledge will inspire our student-athletes to combat systemic racism and build the confidence to speak up and speak out."

Shawn Newton is a resident of Salem, MA and is the Associate Dean of Students at Suffolk University in Boston, where he oversees, among many other offices, the University's Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion and chairs the University's Bias Prevention and Advisory Team. Newton is the co-founder of the Newton Consultancy Group where he specializes in facilitating conversations and workshops on race & racism.

Additionally, Newton chairs the City of Salem Race Equity Task Force where he was appointed by Mayor Kim Driscoll to lead race equity efforts for the City of Salem, MA. He also serves on the board of 1Race, a Salem based non-profit that coordinates high school workshops to educate youth on issues of race and the Plummer Youth Promise, a non-profit that strives towards permanency for foster youth in their care. Previously he served as the Assistant Dean of Students at Salem State University and adjunct professor where he taught courses including Undoing Racism and Human Diversity & Social Work Practice.

Newton earned a BS in Criminal Justice from Salem State University, a MS in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and is currently enrolled at the University of Southern California where he is working on his doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership in the Rossier School of Education.

The series of programming will begin in November and will be held virtually for members of the athletic department.

For more information on the Newton Consultancy Group visit: https://www.newtonconsultancygroup.net/