U.S. Figure Skating’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Kadari Taylor-Watson was presented the Trailblazer Award by 24 Degrees of Color at the 2023 Summer of Color Skating Showcase in Los Angeles this past Sunday for her leadership to make figure skating an inclusive space for everyone.
Taylor-Watson works closely with 24 Degrees of Color– a non-profit dedicated to providing underrepresented communities access to ice sports – to increase the representation within figure skating and hockey. Most recently, she invited skaters, parents and coaches from 24 Degrees of Color and other organizations focusing on DEI initiatives to attend the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California.
In recognition of this honor, Taylor-Watson reflected on what she is most proud of as it pertains to her work as well as her vision for the future of DEI within the sport of figure skating.
What does it mean to win this award?
Being recognized as a trailblazer in supporting the work of growing the sport of figure skating by helping expose new communities to the sport is humbling. When I first started this work nearly two years my intention was to humanize DEI. To me, humanizing DEI means putting people first. To be honored as a trailblazer I believe is a testament to the community building I’ve prioritized with the extraordinary people within our sport. I am so grateful to be the visible champion and strategic leader at U.S. Figure Skating doing the work that supports the growth of our sport but I certainly didn’t do it alone. I work alongside an amazing group of DEI Task Force members, U.S. Figure Skating staff and members who are all striving to move the organization forward in a positive direction. I am grateful that I can receive this recognition on behalf of the organization and look forward to continuing to lead us in the movement we’re building to demonstrate that skating is for everyone.
Can you expand on your work with 24 Degrees of Color?
Last year one of my amazing task force members, Ouida Robins, introduced me to the Founder of 24 Degrees of Color, Kendal Troutman. Kendal is a rockstar and is leading the work in Los Angeles making ice skating and ice hockey more accessible as well as increasing representation within both sports. After speaking with Kendal, I knew that she was someone who we needed to support the work we were building at U.S. Figure Skating. Kendal exemplifies our core values at their best and it has been an absolute pleasure growing our partnership. Since then, Kendal has been appointed to the DEI Task Force by our president Sam Auxier and we have partnered with Kendal and her community to support her efforts in bringing skating to youth of color in the LA area. This past January, I invited Kendal and other organizations that support underrepresented groups in figure skating to watch our top skaters at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California. Kendal and I continue to partner and find resources for her community to learn more about the sport and compete competitively, if interested. We are truly lucky to have her as an effective leader and community builder in our sport.
What are you most proud of in your work since you started at U.S. Figure Skating?
I am most proud of the opportunity to lead U.S. Figure Skating in building organizational practices and policies necessary to shift to a culture of inclusion for all. I am energized that I can utilize my skillset as a researcher and educator to help support our senior leadership about what equity should look like in figure skating and how being an organization that is representative of the nation, we live in is a business imperative.
Below are a few highlighted accomplishments since I began at U.S. Figure Skating:
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Created the first DEI climate survey to begin to capture voices regarding experiences in the sport of figure skating to strengthen our commitment to DEI
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Involvement with the development of the strategic plan to ensure DEI is woven authentically into all areas of the organization and to ensure accountability for our commitment to DEI
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Co-created a course for U.S. Figure Skating coaches, partnering with the PSA to share best practices about coaching the next generation of skaters
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Partnered with marketing to sign our first-ever women and Black-owned vendor, Aurora Tights
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Brought an outreach opportunity for adults with disabilities to learn about skating by watching the 2023 Synchronized Skating Championships in Peoria, Illinois
What do you want people to know about the work U.S. Figure Skating is doing in the sport in the realm of DEI?
I want people to know that U.S. Figure Skating is taking the necessary steps to transform our organization from the inside out. I always say DEI work is a process, not a production, and that the transformation is systemic and therefore a journey. It is important for people to know that I take seriously that I am leading this work to not be performative, and sometimes that is challenging. We want to make meaningful and real change and that is exactly what I intend to do with the support of our senior leadership, Board of Directors, committees and staff.
What are you most looking forward to about the future of DEI within the figure skating community?
I look forward to following through. We have a plan and now we just need to work our plan authentically. I look forward to being more transparent about where we are and where we want to go. I want us to lead with vulnerability and strategy and to continue to humanize the work. At the end of the day the people of U.S. Figure Skating (athletes, officials, coaches, staff, club members, fans) are why we are here and if we lean into our humanity, we will be successful.
