BLM
Last week, people across the country launched meaningful demonstrations against police brutality after the death of George Floyd. His death added yet another name alongside Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and countless others to a list of black and brown people who have died at the hands of police in the U.S.. The protests are not just about these deaths, they’re about the broad history of police brutality and centuries of systemic oppression and discrimination against people of color that has existed in our country since its inception. EGF will use our voice and resources to help fight this battle and we stand beside those who have been victimized and/or feel threatened by state sponsored racism and violence.
As our hearts ache with the country in this incredibly difficult time, we remain hopeful. The protests have brought renewed awareness and energy to the efforts of groups and movements like Black Lives Matter, the ACLU, the NAACP, Campaign Zero, Black Girls Code and others who have fought for change. Because of these efforts we’re already starting to see change but there’s still much work to be done.
As these changes begin to take root, it’s imperative that progress continues in every aspect of our society, including in our own esports industry. As a governing body, EGF has the responsibility to create and maintain a fair and equitable system that serves every member, player, coach, administrator and fan across our college, high school, and youth communities.
Our mission from the beginning has been to build, govern, and support an amateur esports ecosystem which enables students to grow and develop through competition, education, and social impact, regardless of a person’s backgrounds, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, or physical ability. This commitment led us to creating initiatives like our financial assistance program, launched in 2017, to guarantee access to any high school regardless of their socioeconomic status, a strict Code of Conduct and community engagement standards, and a consistent emphasis on programs focused on mental health and inclusion.
EGF is making the pledge to expand our current diversity initiatives with the addition of these actions:
Work with our member campuses to prioritize the recruitment of a diverse group of individuals to serve on EGF league governance boards and committees
Sponsor diversity and inclusion forums for staff and membership and support programs on our individual member campuses
Highlight and support the individual social impact efforts of our creators, players, and fans
Introduce our path to compensation for players at the collegiate level
Expand our accessibility programs in our youth and high school leagues to include scholarships for individual players
Work with all of our member institutions to produce demographic reports around participation and recruitment alongside strategic plans to address major gaps
Create education and training opportunities focused on African American communities to promote career paths in the esports industry
Commit to hiring and management policies as the company grows to ensure our staff reflects our the diversity of the communities we serve
We will not be perfect. Our policies and our programs may sometimes fall short, but no matter what, we are committed to admitting when we make mistakes, listening to members of our community, and continuing to evolve and adapt to serve our community with integrity and purpose.
Unequivocally, Black Lives Matter. We will do everything in our power to contribute to a more fair and just world.
Signed,
Tyler, Eric, and the EGF Team