Mission / Vision
We believe every collegiate rowing program will have a rower line-up that reflects our nation’s demographic population. It is our mission to increase the participation of BIPOC rowers at the collegiate level.
- Improving student knowledge of—and timely access to—collegiate rowing opportunities
- Assisting collegiate rowing programs in identifying qualified but underrepresented athletes
BRNNE’s Team
Yvette Moy is the mother of two BIPOC sons. When she signed up her son (against his will) with their neighborhood rowing center, she had no idea where it would lead him. Today, her son is the first BIPOC member of his collegiate rowing team. During his college application process, she was surprised at how little coaches paid attention to the fact that her experienced and academically successful son also didn’t look like any of the rowers they had on their team. “Diversity matters, doesn’t it?” she wondered. Along with: “If this talented kid, who is working so hard to get recruited, is having trouble, surely he isn’t alone.” Intuitively, she thought there must be other qualified BIPOC rowers out there who should be on collegiate rowing teams. And she’s about to find out.
Kate Tytus is a former rower and coach. Today, she co-owns Pocock Racing Shells with her brother John, and teaches English and Social Studies in Seattle. She’s had the distinct joy of teaching both of Yvette’s sons. In Kate’s 25 years of rowing, she saw few people of color in the sport. As a teacher encouraging her students to take risks and explore new endeavors, she wondered how all of her students would have equitable access to opportunities. Impressed with various outreach efforts both locally and nationally, she believes BRNNE can be another way to get underrepresented minority student athletes connected to collegiate rowing coaches.
THANKS:
This is a grassroots led effort that has received the support of a lot of people. While this list will probably grow, in the meantime, we want to acknowledge:
Andrew G.
Guedo F.
Pocock Racing Shells.
John T.
Paul C.
Arshay C.