CADSA: The Story

Coalition For African Diaspora Student Athlete

In 2018 four student-athletes, Sierra Sheppard, De’Andre Morgan, Flora Oliveira, and Mikaela Adolphus, were brought together by their concern for the experience of the Black student-athletes at UC Davis. Influenced by the Black Student-Athlete Summit 2018 in Austin, TX, and the lack of support for Black student-athletes on campus, the CADSA idea was born. The athletes quickly assembled its board, and with support from our key advisor, Dwight Smith, CADSA was launched. The Coalition for African Diaspora Student-Athletes seeks to serve a select population in athletics who face high risks of financial stress, mental health issues, insufficient access to professional development, low graduation rates, and lack of mentorship than any other group on campus– the Black student-athlete. Now CADSA’s board is run by Xochitl Bryson, Mahlah Catline, Erron Duncan, Anthony Easter, Khanie Lesane, De’Andre Morgan, Flora Oliveira, and Mahalia White.

Within CADSA’s initial years, the organization came to develop pillars so that it could better serve communities in need.

CADSA’s  main goals and pillars are to: 

1.  Unite Communities
   • We want Black student-athletes to have connections to other Black athletes, Black students, and Black staff on campus. CADSA emphasizes that connections are a greater part of keeping the culture alive!  
2.  Serve Black student-athletes Through specific initiatives
   • Educational and Professional Resources Initiative
   • Food Initiative 
   • Making Connections Initiative 
   • Mentoring Initiatives 
3. Advocate Against Racism in Athletics
   • Racial Incident Report: Advocacy incident report. Students can report to CADSA what has happened. CADSA is committed to advocating against racist acts and providing anti-racist resources.
4.  Create Safe Spaces 
   • Making sure to hold fun events that make Black students athletes comfortable as well. 
   • Have conversations with several groups to challenge what is seen as “normal” in order to create a more just environment. 
   • Host separate events focused on Black student-athletes, or  that includes allies (Black community, non-Black student-athletes, and/or non-Black community) and/or ones that include staff.
     • *Disclaimer*: These safe spaces are not limited to just Black people or Black student-athletes but they do not have to include everyone. Some events can be for just Black student-athletes, or for the whole Black community, or for the whole Black community and their allies.

CADSA grounds itself in inclusive initiatives and we strive to make a team environment that understands, supports, and works with student-athletes’ time schedules. CADSA understands student-athletes are busy bodies, which is why CADSA prioritizes advocating, creating educational spaces, organizing student-athletes, and providing resources for them during times that fit athletes’ schedules. CADSA’s mission is to unite those who identify within the diaspora, across our campus, and throughout the country. With our collective voice, we call out and combat the anti-Black racism that student-athletes within the Diaspora face. CADSA ensures that Black student-athletes are welcomed, supported, and heard, while enhancing the overall student-athlete experience through programming that promotes allyship and is inclusive of race, sexual orientation, gender, ability, and class.

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