S4E2: Jess Jackson Brings DEI Perspective to USRowing
Jess Jackson (second from right) with STEM to Stern’s Will Bott and Brook Yimer, and USRowing’s Chief Community Engagement Officer Jennie Trayes, at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL.
This episode was made possible in part by: Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons
A former D1 volleyball player with an M.S. in Sports Administration, Jess Jackson joined USRowing in 2022 as a DEI associate. She hasn’t learned to row (yet), but swears by Orange Theory workouts which incorporate indoor rowing. She’s honest about her first impressions of rowing as exclusive and white, proud of the steps USRowing is taking around diversity and equity, and hopeful that today’s juniors are leading the way in inspiring change for the future of rowing.
We also talk in depth about USRowing’s RowCon2023, which is scheduled to take place two weeks after this episode launches.
QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Intro
02:00 - HOCR experience and thoughts on sync in the boat
03:45 - On a scale of 1-10, this week was an 8: travel, Orange Theory
05:14 - Growing up playing a variety of sports
08:00 - Title IX influence on all of us
11:15 - First impressions of rowing: exclusive and white
14:15 - Takeaways from HOCR
17:05 - Code switching, the challenges of overcoming the sport’s exclusive past, and today’s juniors leading the DEI charge
22:46 - Defining diversity, equity, and inclusion
25:08 - The DEI team at USRowing
28:08 - About the TruClusion survey developed to help USRowing formulate its strategic plan
30:40 - RowCon2023's wide variety of content, all with an inclusion lens
37:52 - How RowCon2023 attendees can take ownership of the event and network successfully
46:23 - bonus outtake
EPISODE Mentions
BUSINESS
Orange Theory Fitness
EVENTS
Head of the Charles
USRowing Masters Nationals
USRowing RowCon2023
GEAR
Sperry
RESOURCES
A Long Talk
UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
University of Louisville
USROWING LEADERSHIP
Will Bott
Amanda Kraus
Brook Yimer
This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.