Narrative Change Through Sports
As a major cultural pillar, sports serve as a unifier that transcends political, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic barriers.
RWJF is investing in the power of sports culture to amplify conversations about the impact structural racism and other forms of discrimination have on health and wellbeing.
Using Sports Culture for Powerful Communication
WEBINAR: Wednesday, October 29 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET
At RWJF, we believe in the power of sports to inspire and advance conversations about health equity in America because of its unique ability to connect people from all walks of life. In this webinar, you'll hear our latest research findings and how we’re using it to engage fans.
Research
Since 2023, PerryUndem and the Center for Advancing Innovative Policy (CAIP) have been conducting a mix of qualitative and quantitative research sponsored by RWJF. The goal of the research is to explore how sports fans engage with social issues and if they think sports can be a good place for conversations about structural racism and health.
Between May 19 to June 2, 2025 we fielded an 18-minute nationally representative survey of 3,133 adults using NORC’s AmeriSpeak panel.
Storytelling
Athlete Partnerships
Influencer Voices
Fan Engagement
Champions of Change
RISE activates Champions of Change at sporting events around the country such as the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s and Women's Final Four, NFL Draft, NASCAR Ally400 Race, and WNBA All Star. Together, RISE and RWJF are partnering on storytelling moments at the intersection of health and racial equity in this fan experience.
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