Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality Appoints Diahann Billings-Burford as New CEO
The Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), which was founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to help bridge the nation’s racial divide, has hired Diahann Billings-Burford as its new CEO.
Speak with Billings-Burford even briefly and you get the sense that this no-nonsense, African-American, Ivy League-educated, self-described “Brooklyn girl” is well-prepared for the challenge.
RISE uses an alliance of sports leagues, organizations, athletes, educators, media networks and sports professionals to promote understanding, respect and equality. Billings-Burford succeeds Jocelyn Benson, who served as CEO for two years and is moving on to run for political office in Michigan.
Billings-Burford, who formerly held positions in New York City government and at Time Warner, steps into the position as the NFL grapples with the new civil rights movement in sports and athletes across professional leagues are making major contributions in social activism. That means there’s even more opportunity to partner with athletes in effecting positive change in communities of color, Billings-Burford said...