The 50th anniversary of Title IX will be celebrated on Thursday at the Amalie Arena
TAMPA, FL – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing and implementation of historic Title IX legislation, Spectrum, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Tampa Bay Lightning, WISE Tampa Bay, WICT Network Florida and the Mayor of Tampa , Jane Castor, will host a will host a festive event at Amalie Arena on Thursday, June 23 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Earlier this year, ESPN announced the lineup for Fifty/50, a monumental initiative honoring the 50th anniversary of Title IX and highlighting the civil rights journey of women in the sports and cultural landscape. Throughout June, ESPN features content and experiences that explore stories at the intersection of women, sports, culture and the fight for equality.
The event will include an educational and thought-provoking preview of ESPN Films’ “37 Words,” a 4-part documentary series, chronicling the uphill battle for equal rights in education and athletics from award-winning directors Dawn Porter and Nicole Newnham.
Tampa City Mayor Jane Castor will deliver the keynote address for the evening’s festivities, followed by a discussion with prominent women and Title IX trailblazers from across the sports and sports industry. entertainment, including:
- Kimberly Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of the National Hockey League
- Sue Moucha, four-time Team USA Paralympian
- Shaniya Benjamin, student-athlete in track and field at the University of South Florida
As ESPN’s programming provider in Tampa Bay, Spectrum joins in commemorating the historic anniversary of the passage of Title IX.
“This event highlights the significant achievements of women in sport made possible by this legislation,” said Marva Johnson, vice president of the state government affairs group for Charter Communications, which offers services under the Spectrum brand. . “Thank you to Mayor Jane Castor, a role model for women’s sports during her college basketball career at the University of Tampa, and her leadership today to commemorate this historic anniversary.”
ESPN personality and Pinellas County resident Michele Smith will host the evening. Smith, a member of the Amateur Softball Association and the USA Softball Hall of Fame, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and has been ESPN’s senior college softball color analyst since 1998. In 2012, Smith became the first woman to serve as a commentator for a nationally televised Major League Baseball game.
The celebratory event is a joint effort with TBSC’s Beyond Series initiative, a women’s empowerment and legacy program that leverages the power of sport by uniting, educating and inspiring girls and women in the community. from Tampa Bay.
In total, the Sports Commission hosted three other “Beyond Barriers – Because of Title IX” events (2017, 2019, 2020).
“We are so fortunate to be hosting this celebratory screening event in our market,” said Claire Lessinger, Vice President of Events for the Tampa Bay Athletic Commission. “The Tampa Bay team has had the great pleasure of hosting many women’s championships and major events over the years. Along with these events, it is a priority of ours to leverage the hosting platform, showcasing the female athletes, coaches and leaders who make it all possible and inspiring future leaders to dream big and aim for the moon Title IX has changed the landscape of opportunity for so many young girls and women, and I hope everyone involved can celebrate how far we’ve come and come away realizing how much work we still have to do.”
Additionally, the Tampa Bay Athletic Commission and legendary local historian and columnist Joey Johnston honored local Title IX trailblazers throughout June through the “Tampa Bay’s Title IX Trailblazers” sticker campaign.
The Title IX Celebration in Tampa Bay is free and open to the public. Register in advance at BeyondBarriers2022.com.
