This week the Sports Training and Role-models for Success (STARS) program marked the end of a three week segment on building a positive team culture. The girls were posed questions about what their understanding of culture was, and they certainly superseded the expectations of the coaches with their responses.
The best part was giving the girls an opportunity to go around and share about their own personal culture. Our STARS program reaches so many different girls with so many different backgrounds, the coaches were schooled along with the girls on all kinds of cultural traditions. There was discussion of various foods, and family traditions such as participating in festivals within their communities that are dedicated to different countries and cultures that are found all throughout New York City. The girls were even surprised to learn that their fellow PowerPlay teammates participated and celebrated the same cultural events as they do.
These girls are really digesting what it means to be culturally aware and sensitive which is crucial to living and really enjoying New York City. However, the next time we bring up culture, there will definitely have to be snacks, because the discussion of all the great foods was almost too much for the girls, and their hungry coaches!
