Mark your calendars! Women’s basketball and women in basketball are more powerful than ever after an explosive year in collegiate and WNBA basketball in 2024. Join us to hear from an incredible panel of trailblazers who are defining the business of basketball; shaping the future of some of the sport’s biggest teams; and creating space for girls and women as players, fans, analysts, and executives.

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Tickets

$25 Adults
$20 Seniors/Youth/College Students/Visitors with disabilities
$15 Museum members (join here)

Tickets include Museum Admission from 5:00 – 6:00PM and light refreshments in addition to the panel discussion.

Act Fast! The first 42 ticketholders will receive a signed copy of Sheila Johnson’s book, Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph.

For group rates, email [email protected].

Featured Speakers

Sheila Johnson, Partner, Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Sheila Johnson is Founder & CEO of the Salamander Collection. The company operates
luxury properties centered around unique destinations in the US and the Caribbean. As a Partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Johnson is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and the Washington Mystics. She spearheaded the formation of WE Capital, a venture capital consortium to support and invest in female-led enterprises. A powerful influence in the entertainment industry, she was the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, served as executive producer of documentary and feature films and is founder and chair of the Middleburg Film Festival. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences – focusing on the Education Committee. She serves on several boards including the Trust for the National Mall, College of Performing Arts at The New School, the Metropolitan Opera, Jackie Robinson Foundation, Simon & Schuster Publishing Advisory Board, Aspen Music Festival and School and the PBS Foundation.

Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer, Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena
Melissa McGhie Proctor joined the Atlanta Hawks in June of 2014 and is the Chief Marketing Officer for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and State Farm Arena. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day operations of marketing teams, including marketing integration and direct response, digital content and advertising and promotions. Additionally, Proctor plays an instrumental role within the organization spearheading internal corporate employee initiatives and executive communication. Proctor began her career with the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., serving in senior brand development and strategy leadership positions for Turner Entertainment Networks. Additionally, Proctor helped to create the first Corporate Social Responsibility Division in Turner’s UK office. Proctor has also been a part of the NBA since high school, being the first ball girl (team attendant) for the Miami Heat organization and in later years returning to work for the Heat in basketball operations and the Atlanta Hawks as a ball girl.

Shana Stephenson, Chief Brand Officer, New York Liberty
As Chief Brand Officer for the New York Liberty, Shana Stephenson oversees strategies and day to day management of marketing, partnership initiatives, content and innovation for the New York Liberty brand. Additionally, she is responsible for maintaining strong relationships with core fans and building relationships with new fan bases. A former ESPN marketing professional with more than a decade of sports industry experience, Shana has a passion for storytelling – adding a unique perspective, relatable relevance and necessary voice to traditionally male-driven sports community has landed her opportunities with AspireTV, Black Enterprise, Bleacher Report, espnW, Essence, and Refinery29, to name a few. Her keen knowledge of sports inspired her All Sports Everything, a New York centric sports blog with a range of lifestyle, news and other sports-relevant content; UnManning the Game, a platform designed to highlight women in sports; and THE MAJORS, a movement celebrating young-ish influencers of color, sports business’ unsung architects of dope. In October 2020, Shana was named to the Sports Innovation Lab Women’s Sports Leadership Board, the first of its kind, specifically dedicated to accelerating the growth and commercialization of women’s sports.

Khristina Williams, Host of “In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams,” an iHeartMedia podcast; WNBA reporter; founder of Girls Talk Sports TV
Khristina Williams is a New York City based multimedia journalist, host, and digital creator. As a rising and prominent voice in women’s basketball media, she utilizes her platform to bridge the gap between sports fans and athletes through delivering honest content and amplifying the voices of women through storytelling. In 2018, Williams founded social-digital media platform Girls Talk Sports TV with a mission to close the women’s sports coverage gap by creating  more visibility for women in sports, through social content creation and reporting. GTSTV has since served as the go-to destination for women’s basketball breaking news, daily updates, and exclusive interviews with WNBA and NCAA athletes. In 2022, Athletes Unlimited and Girls Talk Sports TV announced a digital creator partnership for their inaugural basketball season. Through her efforts and impact with Girls Talk Sports TV, Williams has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Sports 2021), Forbes: Queens of Culture (2022),  Sports Illustrated’s 100 Influential Black Women in Sports (2022), Hashtag Sports Creators of Color (2021), PG Sports Women’s Basketball Media/Sports Influencer of the Year (2021), and Hunter College’s “40 Under 40” (2022). Currently, Williams contributes as a WNBA Expert for SportsNet New York (SNY) and is the host of the “In Case You Missed it with Khristina Williams” weekly women’s basketball podcast on iHeart Radio’s newly launched Women’s Sports Audio Network (WSAN). Williams earned a degree in journalism at Hunter College.

About the Series

This program is the third event in our Leveling the Playing Field series, which pays tribute to Jackie Robinson’s barrier-breaking legacy by highlighting how women of color are changing the landscape of sports today.

Sponsorship

Presenting Sponsor of Leveling the Playing Field: Sheila Johnson Foundation

Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Contact [email protected].

Join us for sensory-friendly hours at the Jackie Robinson Museum, held on the first Friday afternoon of each month and specially designed for neurodivergent visitors, including youth and their families, teens, and adults. ACCESS JRM Fridays will feature limited general admission for reduced crowds and quieter gallery spaces with exhibit audio reduced or silenced.

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What to Expect

In addition to our KultureCity resources available at all times, ACCESS JRM hours will include availability of a dedicated quiet zone and interpretive offerings such as tours, picture book readings, and tactile learning opportunities for inclusive exploration. All age groups are welcome!

ACCESS JRM is mostly a self-guided experience and not designed as a drop-off activity. All children and youth ticket holders must be accompanied by an adult.

Mark Your Calendars

ACCESS JRM takes place monthly. Mark your calendars for the following Spring 2025 dates:

• January 3, 2025
• February 7, 2025
• March 7, 2025
• April 4, 2025
• May 2, 2025
• June 6, 2025

Preparing for your visit

To learn more about accessibility at the Jackie Robinson Museum, view Accessibility and Accommodations on the Visit page of our website. If you have questions or require enhanced accommodations, please email [email protected] with at least two weeks notice from the date you are planning to visit for ACCESS JRM.

Review our Social Narrative to learn about our Museum and what to expect in the galleries.

Tickets

ACCESS JRM is included with regular admission fees.

$18 Adults
$15 Youth, Seniors, College Students
$15 Visitors with Disabilities (care partner free of charge)

Group Recommendations

• A group discount of $1 per ticket is available for groups of 10 or more (ACCESS JRM Hours only)
• Recommended group size is up to 20 guests (including staff, care partners, etc.)
• Group reservations require a 25% deposit, with the remaining balance due on the day of the visit.
• Questions about accommodating your group? Email [email protected].

ACCESS JRM is free for museum members.

Leveling the Playing Field: Women in Soccer pays tribute to Jackie Robinson’s barrier-breaking legacy by highlighting how women of color are changing the landscape of the world’s game today. Our panel of players, coaches, journalists, and executives will explore the growing presence for women of color on the US Women’s National Team and in the National Women’s Soccer League in recent years, pay equity, representation in front office and team ownership roles, and career pathways for girls and young women as players and beyond.

View selected clips from this event

Meet the Panelists:

Darian Jenkins, Broadcast analyst, former NWSL player, and member of the Black Women’s Player Collective
Between 2017 and 2023, Darian Jenkins played professionally in France and Australia and with the North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Orlando Pride and Kansas City in the NWSL, winning an NWSL championship in 2018 with North Carolina. Jenkins also won a national championship in college with the UCLA Bruins. She is currently serving as a CBS Sports analyst on “Attacking Third,” “Morning Footy,” and “Box to Box” on the Golazo Network covering soccer globally and analyst on ION covering NWSL matches every Saturday and a color analyst for MSG local broadcast. Jenkins previously served as Gotham FC chief of staff.

Danita Johnson,  President, Business Operations, DC United
Danita Johnson is a seasoned sports and entertainment executive and member of Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 and ESSENCE Power 40 Class of 2023. Johnson serves as the President of Business Operations for Major League Soccer’s most decorated club, D.C. United, a role she has held since January 2021. Notably, she is the first Black President of an MLS Club and only the third woman in league history to serve in this role. Prior to joining D.C. United, Johnson had 15 years of experience in the sports industry, including several roles in the WNBA, NBA, and NBA G League, specializing in revenue generation, community programs, and digital media and marketing.

Kia McNeill, Head Coach, Women’s Soccer, Brown University
Now in her eighth season as head coach, Kia McNeill leads the 4-peat undefeated Ivy League Champion women’s soccer team at Brown University (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), where she has also been recognized twice as Ivy League Coach of the Year and East Region Coach of the Year. McNeill comes to her coaching career after a decorated college and professional playing career. McNeill was a four-year starter at Boston College, where she was the eighth all-time leading scorer, and a professional player in Sweden, Russia, and the US between 2008 and 2014.

Bekah Salwasser, Executive Director, Red Sox Foundation & Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Boston Red Sox; former professional soccer player, Boston Breakers
Bekah Salwasser has dedicated her career to serving the community through promoting and amplifying social justice initiatives. She has been involved with various nonprofits including Scholar Athletes, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, and the Lacrosse and Learning Center. As Executive Vice President, Social Impact for the Red Sox, Bekah continues to champion and advocate for equity and inclusion through the Foundation’s giving strategies, programming, fundraising, sponsorships, and capacity building that help build the brand and strengthen the impact of the Foundation within the New England community. Bekah brings her experience as an athlete to her work around sports and social justice. Salwasser played collegiate soccer for Brown University before playing professionally for the USL W-League Boston Renegades and the WUSA Boston Breakers.

Renee Washington, PHLY Sports host, ESPN and NWSL Analyst (Moderator)
Renee Washington is a sports reporter and analyst that works with PHLY Sports hosting daily shows on the Philadelphia Union and Phillies. She is an analyst with MSG Networks and CBS Sports covering the NWSL. She has also worked as a college reporter with ESPN as a sideline reporter and analyst. The Ewing, NJ native has covered all sports collegiately or professionally through work with the NBA, MLB, WNBA, NFL, NLL, MLS, and NWSL. In her playing career, Renee is a former three-time all-American and soccer hall of famer from La Salle University. She had an opportunity to play with Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) before becoming a coach at Lehigh University where she received her masters.

Tickets

$25 Adults
$20 Seniors/Youth/College Students/Visitors with disabilities
$15 Museum members (join here)

Tickets include Museum Admission from 5:00 – 6:00PM and light refreshments in addition to the panel discussion.

Special Offer from NJ/NY Gotham FC

Special offer from NJ/NY Gotham FC! Leveling The Playing Field: Women in Soccer event attendees will be eligible to redeem two complimentary tickets to your choice of Gotham FC home games in June, first come first served.

Sponsorship

Presenting Sponsor of Leveling the Playing Field: Sheila Johnson Foundation

Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Contact [email protected].