NFL, Raiders host Las Vegas leaders, educators for Social Justice Roundtable

“We’re here talking about Las Vegas, with Las Vegas!”

This was the first sentiment spoken by Marcel Reece, Raiders Chief People Officer and former Silver & Black player who is now one of the highest-ranking Black executives in the NFL, at Allegiant Stadium on Wednesday, April 27. A very poignant sentiment as the league came together with Las Vegas leaders, activists, businessmen and educators on coming up with an answer on how to improve the city for all people.

After the NFL held a social justice roundtable in Los Angeles for the Super Bowl, the league wanted to bring the same call to action to the draft host city. The Raiders, now approaching their third season in the state of Nevada, joined in to hold the discussion at Allegiant Stadium as the team continuously explores the question “What more can we do for our new community?”

A variety of topics were addressed, including K-12 education in Clark County School District, housing segregation, how to invest in black-owned businesses, and how to develop healthy relationships between young people of color and the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Dr. David Wall Rice, author and professor of psychology at Morehouse College, was the moderator for the event after doing the same for the roundtable conversation at the Super Bowl. The panelists included UNLV President Keith Whitfield, Kenadie Cobbin-Richardson, Roxann McCoy and Ken Evans.

The youngest of the panelists was Keren Jean-Charles, a rising senior and psychology major at UNLV. She’s been involved in several student organizations and hosts the ‘You Gon’ Listen’ podcast. Additionally, she was granted a $5,000 scholarship from the 100 Black Men of Las Vegas during the roundtable. Jean-Charles detailed how she has been a first-hand witness to the problems that have plagued Las Vegas her whole life, and wants to play a hand in resolving them after her graduation.

“All of these things coming to Las Vegas [are] a welcome addition to the city, but what is the cost for the locals?” she said. “My focus is community and I want to build a community resource center that helps people who are homeless in Las Vegas and other disenfranchised communities.”

At the invite-only roundtable, the Raiders front office and staff made their impact felt. Owner Mark Davis, President Dan Ventrelle, Chief Financial Officer Michael Crome and members of B.A.S.E.D. In Sports, an Employee Resource Group within the Raiders organization whose mission is to support diversity and create an inclusive culture for employees at every level, were in attendance listening to the problems affecting Las Vegas in order to help find a way to take action. Another big name in attendance was a product of the city of Las Vegas and the Clark County School District – Steven Jackson.