CBA Caribbean League Summit Moved To June 22-24
In order the better accommodate the schedules of several Caribbean sports ministers who wanted to attend the event, the CBA Caribbean League Summit, which will focus on establishing CBA teams in the various island countries and developing a sports tourism program, has been moved from May 21-23 to June 22-24. The event will still be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel and Casino. Additional summit information, including registration forms, is available at www.cbahoopsonline.com, or below. The Summit is open to anyone interested in investing in the league on in individual teams, in sponsorship, sports tourism and in broadcasting games, but space is limited and on a first-come, first serve basis. To receive a preliminary agenda for the summit, send e-mail to sportsperspecint@aol.com
History
Sports Perspectives International (SPI) was founded in 1988 as an athletes advocacy organization designed to help youth, particularly minority youths, separate myth from reality with regards to sports. All too often minority youths see playing sports as a vocation, while the odds of them becoming professional athletes is astronomical.
The founders are all graduates of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the oldest historically black college in the country.
Beginning in 1989 and continuing for nine years, SPI produced THE BLACK ATHLETES IN AMERICA FORUM as a platform for examining issues of critical consequence to black athletes. The Forum annually brought together the largest assembled contingent of people actively involved in areas that affect black athletes, including the athletes themselves, coaches, sports administrators, sociologists, educators, authors, historians, journalists, agents, sports management and marketing representatives, recruiters and government officials dedicated to encouraging the black athletes to put sports in a proper perspective, with major emphasis on the long-range benefits of a good education.
The Forum provided an environment for lively and informative debate that resulted in tangible recommendations and solutions to improve the conditions for black athletes.
As time passed, and black athletes started better understanding the odds against them becoming professional athletes, SPI expanded its mission to include promoting opportunities in the sports industry beyond being an athlete. Helping minorities seeking careers in sports became a major thrust of SPI and continues so today.
SPI has evolved into a full service sports advocacy, diversity, marketing and consulting firm that offers career and job counseling, and also provides consulting services in marketing; branding; web and graphic design; licensing, manufacturing and merchandising; events; production; promotions; and management, to name just a few. SPI can assist individuals and companies with incorporation, business plans, sponsorship and grants, and other technical support.
The ultimate goal of SPI is to level the playing field in terms of full minority participation in the $450 billion a year global sports industry.
Some examples of services SPI has provided:
- Introduced a graphic design company to numerous sports leagues and organizations
- Consulted on creating a motorsports diversity organization
- Worked with minority motorcycle team on sponsorship
- Introduced the inventor of a novelty optical product to sports leagues
- Introduced a coffee manufacturer to sports leagues
- Produced a workshop on merchandising, licensing and manufacturing
- Helped produce sports conference in Dominican Republic, promoting business in sports
- Spoke at various times, to various groups about balancing sports and education
- Worked with two companies on developing business plans and becoming 501-C3’s
- Worked with a major black university on improving it sports communications
SPI Has Provided Services to the Following Companies:
- National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
- Howard University
- Magic Johnson Enterprises
- Nextel
- Ecnorrot (apparel designer)
- National Rookie League
- Latino Sports Initiative
- National Urban League
- Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce
- One Umbrella Motorsports Association
- One Shot Racing
- Urban Hospitalities
- Miller Racing Group
- Washington Erving Motorsports