Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Sports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CPS proposes July football leadership conference for 400 players, seeks $20,000 and sponsors
Summary
CPS athletic leaders proposed a one‑day July CMAQ Football Leadership Conference for all conference teams that would serve roughly 400 players; organizers estimated a $20,000 budget for venue, meals and shirts and asked council for venue help and sponsorship outreach.
Joshua Harden, CPS' athletic director, and Principal Gary Tate presented a proposal to bring CMAQ football teams together for a one‑day leadership conference in July that would combine documentary screenings, panels with former players, recruiting basics, NIL guidance and life-after-sports sessions.
Harden said the conference aims to bring teams together so players build relationships across schools and learn leadership skills. Principal Gary Tate, who proposed the conference after attending a principal leadership retreat, said the event would place students in breakout sessions on recruiting, social-media management and strength and conditioning, and feature panels with former athletes.
Organizers estimated the budget at about $20,000 for venue, meals and T-shirts and said they would seek sponsors. "We worked out the total budget. It was around 20,000," Harden said. He and Tate asked council members to help with venue connections and sponsor outreach; council members volunteered to assist with outreach to pro and college teams and to explore sponsorship options.
Harden said the event would serve CMAQ football players from CPS and partner schools (DePaul, Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy and others in the conference) and that organizers expect to run breakout sessions appropriate to grade levels. Board and council members encouraged planning for a similar girls'leadership event and suggested alumni and regional pro-team contacts be engaged as speakers and sponsors.
Next steps: athletic directors will develop sponsorship packets, save-the-dates and logistics; organizers will meet with CPS and city staff to secure a venue and finalize a date in July.
