UNITY Summit during Super Bowl Weekend connects Black and Jewish Student Athletes

New Orleans was humming with excitement and a multitude of events the week of Super Bowl LIX. One of the largest sporting events of the year drew more than 100,000 visitors to the city, according to the New Orleans Saints’ website.

UNCF, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) and Hillel International hosted an event during Super Bowl LIX at Xavier University of Louisiana called a UNITY Summit. The summit was the culmination of a series of UNITY Dinners that have been taking place across the U.S. since last year. These dinners bring together students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly white institutions (PWIs) to develop social change initiatives and improve the Black-Jewish alliance.

The first ever Unity Summit on Feb. 7 brought together more than 100 Black and Jewish college-level student athletes from Dillard University, Loyola University, Louisiana State University, Southern University, University of New Orleans, Tulane University and Xavier University of Louisiana. The summit created a space for meaningful conversations and actions toward bridging divides and creating a more unified future, according to a press release from FCAS.

Students engaged in discussions about their roles as leaders in fighting hate on campus and heard from several speakers including Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and chief executive officer, UNCF.

“Our groundbreaking partnership is extraordinary. Together, we’re going to heal the world by fostering understanding and collaboration between the Black and Jewish communities,” Dr. Lomax shared. “The historical alliance between Black and Jewish communities has been a powerful force for progress in this country. From the Civil Rights Movement to today’s challenges, our shared struggles and triumphs have shaped a better future. It’s crucial that we continue to nurture and strengthen that bond, especially for the next generation.”

Robert Kraft, founder of FCAS, provided generous support making the UNITY Dinners and UNITY Summit possible. This year, FCAS launched its second Super Bowl campaign, called “No Reason to Hate”, featuring football legend Tom Brady and rapper, record producer and actor Snoop Dogg.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Robert and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism … their commitment to fighting hate and building bridges is truly commendable,” Dr. Lomax said. “Together with Hillel International, we’re creating spaces for dialogue, understanding and lasting connections between students from HBCUs and PWIs.”

Presidents of two UNCF-member institutions also attended the summit, Dr. Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University of Louisiana, and Dr. Monique Guillory, president of Dillard University.

The summit also featured panels from notable sports figures including Jake Retzlaff (Brigham Young University), Leonard Fournette (Buffalo Bills), Greg Joseph (New York Jets) and Nancy Lieberman (WNBA/NBA). There was also a keynote speech from Kraft and musician and activist Meek Mill.