Following the implementation of a new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiative by the Mill Valley Parks and Recreation Commission, coaches utilizing the city of Mill Valley’s field space will now be required to complete an online DEI course. The stipulation for 2023 was passed by the commission at a Jan. 4 meeting, and completion progress will continue to be discussed at future meetings. According to annual staff reports made by the Director of Arts and Recreation for the city of Mill Valley, Sean McGrew, all coaches from Southern Marin Lacrosse, Mill Valley Soccer Club, Southern Marin Youth Football, Mill Valley Girls Softball and Mill Valley Little League will be required to complete this course by their sports seasons. Spring coaches of the five organizations will have to complete the training by March 31, while fall coaches must finish the training by Sept. 29. 

McGrew, who also serves as the staff liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission, shares that this process was instituted at the beginning of 2022 with the youth of Mill Valley at the center of it all.

“The city of Mill Valley began to examine its stance on diversity, equity and inclusion.  One of the ways we believed that [the next generation could be supported] is through making sure they have mentors,” McGrew said. “Kids look up to coaches, so it was a very interesting concept to explore [because it is] giving coaches the support and education they need to be positive mentors for the youth of today and adults of tomorrow.”

The city’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, created in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the city of Mill Valley and the Mill Valley Force for Racial Equity & Empowerment (MVFREE), discussed which platform would be utilized to ensure the training was viable and had a purpose. Once the committee came to an agreement with the “Sports Can Battle Racism” training created by the Positive Coaching Alliance, the commissioners of the youth sports organizations discussed the logistics with the city of Mill Valley.

“[The response] was a nice moment of synergy between youth sports organizations, the commission [and] the city of Mill Valley,” McGrew said. “All of the youth sports organizations felt that the type of training was important and would be impactful for their coaches.”

Jon Porter, the executive director of Southern Marin Lacrosse, hopes that the course will have large effects on the program’s coaches and the over 1000 athletes, but he will continue to strive for more.

“This is a good starting point and basis, but there needs to be more action than only the online course,” Porter said. “It helps with the awareness, but the action behind the words is the real thing. How you measure that is not by an online course.”

While McGrew also emphasizes that the initiative is only one aspect of an extensive amount of diversity work ahead, he sees it as a step in the right direction.

“This is the first step, one of many steps that the city is taking with [diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives]. This is something that will evolve over time, but it is a critical first step,” McGrew said. “We look at this as a moment of lifelong learning for our coaches, the youth that participate in the activities and society in general.”