The InSideOut Initiative launching in Wisconsin in partnership with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, NFL Foundation and the Green Bay Packers.
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The InSideOut Initiative—a nonprofit aimed to inspire, catalyze, and equip school leaders and communities to transform lives through purpose-based sports—was launched on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
The three-year program is in partnership with the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Wisconsin Rural School Alliance and Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and it is funded by the National Football League Foundation and the Green Bay Packers.
Powered by the NFL Foundation and piloted in Colorado and Texas in 2015, the InSideOut Initiative has partnered with 23 NFL Teams across 20 states. The InSideOut Initiative partners with educational leaders, state athletic associations and local NFL teams to inspire, catalyze, and equip school leaders and communities to transform lives through purpose-based sports; connecting students to transformational coaches, in a culture of belonging, for their human growth and development.
“We are excited to be a partner along with the Green Bay Packers and other education organizations in offering the InSideOut Initiative to our member schools,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “We believe the foundation of the InSideOut Initiative supports the goals of education-based athletics and will enhance the positive experiences that high school sports provide.”
“The Packers are proud to support the InSideOut Initiative in Wisconsin,” said Mark Murphy, President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers. “Sports can serve as a powerful catalyst to build unity and bring people together, regardless of what the scoreboard says.
“Being involved in sports during childhood can help kids develop critical skills and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, accountability and dedication,” he continued. “The Packers are committed to encouraging participation in sports to help young people discover more about themselves, their teammates and the world around them.”
The InSideOut Initiative premise is that if sports are to provide students with human growth and development opportunities, we must move beyond defining success only by the scoreboard and create space in the culture for a higher purpose.
A virtual make-up date for all member school athletic administrators who were unable to attend the in-person launch on Jan. 10 is scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. Member school athletic administrators with questions about the make-up opportunity may contact Kristin in the WIAA office at [email protected].
The next InSideOut Initiative training will take place virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m.–11 a.m. via Zoom. Participating athletic administrators will receive a Zoom link one week prior to the event.