By: John Jay Sports Information
NEW YORK, NY - The John Jay College Athletics Department celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) virtually on Thursday, February 11.
This year's celebration featured a discussion focusing on overcoming barriers, the powerful voice of women, and the impact of sports participation on communities. The panel included a diverse set of women leaders including:
Darma Diaz is the NYC Councilwoman for District 37 covering Bushwick, East New York, Cypress Hills, Ocean Hill-Brownsville, and Brownsville, Brooklyn. Darma, born and raised in Brooklyn, holds a Bachelor's in Human Services and is a former state committee representative and district leader. In the New York City Council, Darma focuses on affordable housing, reducing gun violence, having more senior services, improving education, and providing more resources to the community to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. She is now the Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity.
Chiene Joy Jones is the founder of Grow Our Game whose mission is Empowering the next generation of women leaders through basketball, passion, confidence & community impact. With over 15 years of coaching experience, Chiene continues to serve as a committed and dedicated professional through community organizations in New York City, primarily facilitating and leading efforts to break generational poverty by advocating for our youth in urban communities. She is a mentor to all of her players, past and present, and continues to advocate for girls participation in sports. Coach Jones was named 2020 New York Knicks/Jr. Knicks Coach of the Year and most recently featured in Nike's You Can't Stop Our Voice! Campaign for her profound impact in the NYC basketball community.
Emma Randall is the Director of High School Programming and Head Girls Coach for Beat the Streets NY and was a member of Team USA's coaching staff from 2012-2018. She was a coach for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and has been coach of numerous world teams at all age levels. Emma earned her B.A. and M.S. in Sports Psychology from Lock Haven University where she competed for the team and wrestled on the senior circuit. In 2016, Randall earned her USA Wrestling Gold level coaching certification. Through her own business, Evolve Leadership and Performance Training, she is dedicated to the growth and development of females and coaches in sports.
Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace is a sprint freestyle specialist from the Bahamas. She graduated from Auburn University where she was a multi-time All-American and three-time NCAA Champion. Vanderpool-Wallace is a national record-holder from the Bahamas who has represented her country in international championships, including the Olympics, FINA world championships, and Pan American Games. She swam for the Bahamas at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics. When she made the finals in the 50m distance in 2012, Vanderpool-Wallace made history as the first Bahamian woman to make the finals of a swim event at the Olympics. Vanderpool-Wallace was honored with the Bahamas' "Senior Swimmer of the Year" in 2015.
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First celebrated in 1987, National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) began as both a day to recognize women in sports and as a day to memorialize Flo Hyman, a remarkable Olympic volleyball player and proponent of equity in women's sports who died the year prior. This year marks the 35th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day. This celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life. A vibrant movement we celebrate annually, NGWSD honors the achievements of female athletes, coaches and leaders and continues to Lead Her Forward by acknowledging the power of sports to unlock her limitless potential.
For more information about NGWSD, please visit their website by
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