 One of the high holidays in the sports universe is upon us and here to talk about the reason for the season is Mr. Orris Stewart He is the executive vice president and chief people officer of the National Basketball Association joining us today to talk about the NBA's Partnership with historically black colleges and universities Throughout NBA all-star weekend and throughout the duration of the season. So mr. Stewart. It is an honor to have you on today, man Pleasure's mine good to be here with you yesterday a featured and Magnificent rollout of the NBA's plans for all-star weekend complete with scholarship support or historically black houses universities through several advocacy organizations This is something that is is sort of a capstone of sorts to a you know Playoff last year and then a season this year of outreach in partnership with HBCU's Can you kind of talk about? The catalyst from a league perspective To to partnering with HBCU's and why it became a centerpiece of you guys community activism and community good initiatives Sure. Well, you know, let me let me start by saying HBCUs have been an important part of our history in terms of players employees referees other people associated with our league who have in their roots Experiences on HBCU campuses and so we as As we were working with the PA to determine our plans for all-star the idea of partnering with HBCUs as part of the experience came up and there was Full it fully enthusiastic support for for the concept and so, you know, once we made that decision We we were all in and and we all started to run with it It's interesting because the the NBA More so than any other professional league has fully put its arms around the players and their embrace of social activism And raising voices for specific social issues and that has been to the league's credit How easy is that to take that kind of position? Outside of labor force outside of social good just to say hey We're with you on these things that that are important to you Well, listen, I think it starts with the game itself a game that's inclusive by its very nature You know, you can access our game regardless of who you are your station life your background And so I think that's where it starts And so as we think about the experience we want to create through basketball Think about the relationship we have with our fans As we think about the service that we want to give to the communities that are so important to our success We want to be inclusive in every aspect of that And then if you you know really reflect on our history a history that has many examples of Players standing up for what's right standing up for inclusion standing up for equity and equality It's I'd like to believe it's in our DNA. I mean, I think the evidence suggests that and so, you know, we are I think continuing a tradition of commitment to again our communities and commitment to You know standing up for the principles and values that I think are tied directly to the game itself And and so this is just a you know, another one of those opportunities for us to do that You have franchises in several HBCU communities throughout the country You're going to be playing the this year's all-star game in an HBCU community Atlanta Sure what has been the the reaction of the particular teams in their efforts to to have HBCU nights and to have Individual collaborations with those HBCU communities. We know what it's like We know what it feels like from an NBA perspective, but how have your franchises actually embraced that too? Yeah, I'll tell you there's uh, there's a real uh a movement of foot. I mean first of all, there are many Relationships that have existed and persisted for some time, but certainly I'm excited about The the the number of new relationships that are emerging and the depth of those relationships relationships that I think have reciprocal value right where the the institution itself Is rewarded the the the NBA as a as a brand and as a league and of course that that local team is rewarded so many ways, uh, you know just one example is the Partnership between the Dallas Mavericks and Paul Quinn College right there in Dallas I mean that is uh, and a partnership that existed a number of levels But it's gone to another a new level now and so there's just lots of examples of that and I expect That there will be more and uh, and we'll see more and more opportunities for us to build even deeper connections Let's talk about that because HBCUs have been um A catalyst of sorts for the the post career ambitions of a lot of NBA players So we see a lot of former players that have getting are getting shots at hit coaching positions At black colleges Is that part of a partnership that the league has helped a broker or is it just something that you guys have said? Hey, you know great job. We see that this is an emerging trend. We'll see if we can support that in a lot of ways Listen, I I think that's uh more than anything an organic process that's evolved because of uh, You know the respect for the skills that our players have and and the players respect for those institutions And and the opportunity to go and support those institutions. I I think it's really that I think it's uh Opportunity finding talent finding, you know commitment all kind of wrapped into one You guys I give you a lot of credit because you not only are working with HBCUs But you're doing it in a very authentic way. So it's not like you know HBCU. Let's throw a million dollars at you You're actually Getting into HBCU culture. You're exploring ways to elevate The academic prowess and pride of HBCU. So it's not just a cultural thing Can you talk about the process in your shop? Where you kind of dig deep and get into the nuances of HBCU culture so you can bring them out in a respectful um Really really really honorable way as a corporate from a corporate perspective what you're doing it in a in a real genuine way Yeah, you know, that's that's a great question and I and I I'd argue a great observation too And I appreciate uh, appreciate you for saying that and and let me offer a couple of responses first personally Uh, I want to mention that the first HBCU the Cheney University founded in 1837 just outside of philadelphia My mother is a graduate of cheney you my grandmother is a graduate of cheney university and my father is a graduate and and many others And uh in my family who grew up in the philadelphia area and so just personally The uh the pride and the connect connection and the commitment runs deep But as a as a lead, you know, we you know, just just by the fact that we have employees and individuals who come from those institutions Who have been part of this process who have helped uh Enable this process from the inside out. I think is emblematic of Why we've approached the way we we have and how and why things have developed the way they have as well So I would I would say it's a it's a combination of wanting to truly be in service an appreciation for The the true contribution these institutions have made over so so long a period of time And the authentic experience authentic experiences of people throughout our league Players uh employees referees who have been able to contribute to how we've thought about this MBA as a global brand as many of us who are our true fans of league understand um, do you think that there is a place for hbc use to to develop Uh an identity within the talent pipeline and I don't mean just from a player's perspective Sure from an executive training from a sports marketing and hospitality perspective from Sport science and athletic training are there opportunities that you the league may be exploring Where you can find more talent to support the league support teams and support the global brand starting with hbc use graduates and students Yes Yes, I mean, let's let's let's keep it real simple. Uh, that that is a unqualified. Uh, yes And then the final question just as you think about Closing out this weekend and the duration of the season Are there more surprises and more opportunities that you see leveraging the hbcu partnership Beyond all star weekend or is this a is a is this a capstone moment to it? Just a great celebration of black college culture involving players executives coaches everybody Well, certainly it's at least that it's it's it's a moment that I believe it's part of a bigger movement I mean, we've all seen the the the amount of attention these You know deserving institutions have received of late. Uh, and and you know, we're we're doing our part But but there's there's a lot more to come and I look back to The 33 year history that we've had with thurgood marshal, right? So this is not Something that we just started thinking about or acting on it's something that runs deep with us for quite a bit of time and so that's going to continue and This opportunity has just opened up A whole new set of conversations and a whole new set of opportunities for us to explore and consider Together and I would just say that then I use the term I used earlier There is incredible Reciprocal value that I find that we are already finding through these partnerships. And so we'll continue to pursue Pursue those opportunities, you know to to their their their natural outcome