WASHINGTON – Earlier this month, The John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation announced a partnership with more than 35 collegiate coaches to launch the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative, with Georgetown Head Coach Patrick Ewing among the coaches. This coach-driven initiative will provide minorities a jump-start to their careers through practical experiences, opportunities to build their network, and instilling the values of John McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership and Mentorship.
 
On the Record
"From the moment I stepped onto campus, it has been instilled in me that Georgetown is a place that is willing to give every qualified candidate an equal opportunity to succeed," Ewing said. "This initiative continues Georgetown's unwavering efforts to ensure that every candidate, no matter their background, has the opportunity to excel in their field. I'm proud to be part of this initiative and hope it will encourage others to take action for equality."
 
About the Minority Leadership Initiative

• The purpose of the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative (MLI) is to provide minorities a jump-start to their careers through practical experiences, opportunities to build their network, and instilling the values of John McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership and Mentorship.
• Participants in the initiative will be known as MLI Future Leaders.
• Coaches participating in the initiative are Ambassadors of the program and will serve as mentors to the Future Leaders on their campuses.
• The McLendon Foundation, along with G3 Marketing and ProLink Staffing Services, will be assisting in the solicitation of collegiate coaches, administrators and corporations to build this program and provide opportunities within athletics departments at all levels, with the ultimate goal of expanding and enhancing the pipeline for minorities interested in pursuing careers in athletics administration.
• As an added benefit, the Joel Cornette Foundation will assist the Future Leaders with corporate mentorship, development, and job placement.

 
About the John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation

• The John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded and administered by NACDA that provides educational opportunities and serves as a vehicle for networking, information and advocacy on behalf of the profession.
• Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded 123 students with scholarships in the amount of $1,245,000.

 
Georgetown's Continued Efforts in Social Justice and Equality

• The Georgetown men's basketball team and Head Coach Patrick Ewing have continued to use social media to show their position on social justice and equality in the country, most recently in their Black Lives Matter video, encouraging people to use their voice and vote to fight systemic racism.
• Assistant Coach Louis Orr has been part of Coaches4Change since its inception, a group that vows to provide a platform that engages, educates, empowers and evolves the collegiate student-athlete on issues of social injustices, systemic racism, and the power of voting.
• Orr, Assistant Coach Robert Kirby and Assistant Coach Akbar Waheed are part of Coaches For Action (CFA), a coalition of 21 assistant men's basketball coaches from institutions in the BIG EAST Conference that share in the difficult realities of life as people of color.