Dr. Akilah Cadet sits down with Veronne Clark — social impact professional, change agent, and Head of Community for the Golden State Valkyries — for a rich, honest, and joy-filled conversation about building community from the ground up, the power of representation in women's sports, and what it looks like to show up fully as a Black woman in corporate America and professional sports. Veronne shares her journey from her HBCU at Central State University, to the Million Man March, to launching her own social impact agency WIN Solutions, to Ole Miss, the Sacramento Kings, and ultimately the historic inaugural season of the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries — the highest-valued team in the league at $500 million, the first expansion team to reach the playoffs, and a franchise bringing an entirely new and diverse fanbase to Bay Area sports.
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Episode 12 — Guest: Veronne Clark, Head of Community for the Golden State Valkyries
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I'm Dr. Akilah Cadet and this is Humane Rights, a show that flips the traditional talk show on its head. This isn't about debate. It's about dialogue. Each episode, I invite guests from different walks of life to unpack the messy, beautiful realities of being human. Welcome to Humane Rights, where being human is the ultimate act of resistance.
Hello.
Veronne Clark: Hey girl..
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Hey, girl. Hey. Welcome to Humane Rights. I have been waiting to interview.
Veronne Clark: So excited.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: We're going to get into it. Because I... I love and adore you. I really do. I really do. But we'll get into that. But first, I would love for you to just do a little bio, a little intro of yourself and starting with your pronouns and image description. I'll role model. My name is Doctor Akilah Cadet. My pronouns are bad bitch or she/her. I am a zaddy today.
Veronne Clark: Very much so.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Is this for me?
Veronne Clark: It is 100% for you. Jesus. 100% for you.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I was like. You know what? Let me bring her out. So I'm wearing a vintage brown Christian Dior oversize men's blazer that I love. I'm wearing my mom's Calvin Klein striped blue and white t-shirt from the 90s, wearing this random brown different red colored tie. Something vintage. Wearing jeans.
Veronne Clark: Oh, vintage tie for sure.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: This is $1.49 at Goodwill. Vintage
Veronne Clark: vintage.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Well, now they're going to be vintage jeans from Mara Hoffman, RIP that designed the designer shut down the business, and then black little vintage Prada loafers. Come on. With white socks with a "C" on em. What's the "C". Change Cadet. Come on. I blonde braids going down my back and brown sugar skin, because that's what D'Angelo said. I was seated here and my beautiful studio in Berkeley, California. Everything is golden because we are magical and special as Black women. Taylor Small's artwork is behind us next to my book, but on the beautiful leather couch. We have none other than the Veronne Clark. So pronouns. Yes. Tell us what you are wearing.
Veronne Clark: Pronouns she/her. Veronne Clark, originally from Columbia, South Carolina, wearing a white button diz-zown. Very much so like this buss down.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: It looks good.
Veronne Clark: Well, thank you. We like this hair. I appreciate it. Yeah. A little flair pants with a nice little panel down the side there. And you can't go wrong with Air Max. Lil nod to the good old Valkyries, y'all. The Valkyries Violet. The Valkyries Violet.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: But we have to talk about your lashes for days.
Veronne Clark: Okay. Yeah. That just. I mean. Just invite. Very much so, I am super basic, simple. Don't like a lot of makeup. I think a good lash, a good little lip. You're good. I don't have to do so much.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: You're naturally beautiful.
Veronne Clark: Thank you.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: You're very welcome. And tell us what you do?
Veronne Clark: Man. I am a go giver, a change agent.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yes, you are. A way maker.
Veronne Clark: I am a social impact professional. So I give back for a living. That's what I do. I also work for a WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries. So, yeah.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: You're so kind. So modest. So you are in the head of community for the the Golden State Valkyries. You are coming off of an incredible inaugural season, and I am just so, so proud of you in so many ways because you had to create community for a team that never existed. And that team that you created community for was amongst many first sold out crowds for a, you know, an expansion team. You had, I don't know, first expansion team to go to the playoffs. You have an All Star. You have so many awards. Coach of the year. I mean, the list goes on and on and on with the first team ever and then casually just valued at $500 million, the highest valued team in the WNBA, which in turn increases the value of the WNBA, in addition to what a lot of people don't fully understand there's the CBA. So the collective bargaining agreement is happening right now with the players union. And because of what the Valkyries have done and leading the way, it's providing a lot more power for the players to say, you know, what the shirts say, pay us what you owe us. Right. Making sure that happens. But personally, I just want to say thank you for bringing something back to the Bay Area that we lost. Go Warriors.
Veronne Clark: Definitely go Warriors.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: But going to Valkyrie's game felt very reminiscent of what happened here at the Oakland Coliseum. I love seeing the diversity of the fans, of seeing the families, the LGBTQ+ community. We have like just different ages. It's just like it's just great in so many ways. So anyhoo...
Veronne Clark: I know you. Yes! So my goodness. Yes! Yes yes yes. I get you.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: So if I I'm going to ask you, what does Humane Rights mean to you?
Veronne Clark: Yeah. Human first and foremost. Right. Rights. You know, I think of ensuring that there are at the core a spirit. You know, that there's that there's justice aligns. That there's characteristics of just being human. Right? And when you think of rights. I'm thinking of policies, I'm thinking of systems. I'm thinking of all of the things that make this world go round. Right. And at the root of it, some people may think it's numbers. It's data. It's all the other things. But at the root of it, it's people that are really driving change and driving what we truly see as something bigger than ourselves. Right. So.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yeah. Yeah. And you just in general, as a person, you've always been just you just gravitate to community. Yes. You gravitate to representation in people and storytelling, which I think is incredibly powerful. So when you think about big picture of humanity. Yeah. And who you are and the intersections of community and sports and social impact and being a Black woman in America. Yeah. Why is it important for you to to be in this space?
Veronne Clark: Oof. Yeah. Wow wow wow. Incredible question. It's important because, one, people need to know that you can absolutely do it. I think that's first and foremost. And doing it scared is probably something that I champion. And when I say do it scared, it's like sometimes you'll be against all odds. You'll be dealt different cards that you didn't know that you'll be dealt. But at the root of it, it's about getting up every single day and understanding that you have the power to navigate your life. You have the power to be just as big as anybody else that you see. You know, close proximity or not close proximity, right. And, you know, for me, it's always about. And it's so crazy. We had this conversation literally off camera. It's like it always can be worse. And if it's always going to be worse, why not put your best foot forward to try to make that worse, better for someone else? And at the root of it all. It's about giving. And when you know that your world has nothing to do with you and everything to do with how you can give in all capacities, right? Your time, your money, your assets, your resources, the world will just be a better place. And, you know, at the you know, when I think of just community and when I think of how the world operates, it truly is a rooting power of of like this, this law of attraction, of just giving, right? And being a service at the root of it. So.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Oh that answers. Oh that's great. You did drop something though.
Veronne Clark: Uh-oh.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Hella gems.
[laughter]
Veronne Clark: Did I drop it?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Girl! Yeah. No. All, all of that is all. All of that is true. And it is. When we as Black women, we carry so much. And so to be in a position to say like, yeah, no, we carry so much, but I'm going to, like you said, keep moving forward. Essentially what you're saying, like how do we keep moving forward despite it all?
Veronne Clark: Absolutely.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: That's incredible. In many ways. So how did you how did you get to here?
Veronne Clark: Wow. I mean you don't have to go back to your birth or anything like that. But know for sure, for sure. You've had a career in sports for a while.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Absolutely.
Veronne Clark: So I played ball my entire life. Played all sports really. And I got a crossroads. I was in a crossroad at my HBCU. Shout out to Central State University. Ended up being the Queen at that particular university and started a nonprofit with my teammate.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: What do you mean, "Queen?"
Veronne Clark: So if you're part of HBCU culture, there's you have a missis and a mister, and they're basically the heads of your student body. And it's not just about putting up fliers and all that jazz, but you're actually building out policies for your school. And you're going to the government and you're you're basically the sounding board for the students and also the board of trustees to, to make change. So was voted into doing that and playing ball and again, at a very interesting crossroad, because I did not look like the queens that they typically had, right? So it was the the girly pops who wanted to wear the pumps and the dresses. And I very much so was a tomboy. So.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: But also same. But you you do both.
Veronne Clark: You do both like it happens. Yes. Now I've, Probably mastered that. But at an 18-20 year old girl, like I still was trying to find my way, but was so interesting even back then, I knew I had to do it scared, and I had to do it in a way where other individuals can see themselves, even in me. When I was navigating the social impact space and fast forward. Understanding that ended up starting a nonprofit in my college years. I knew that I wanted to impact people. Didn't know how, what, when or how that was going to just transpire. But I knew that that was going to happen. And through I would say the years go by. A turning point was, again, I knocked on my mentors door and said, what do you think I'm good at? And he's like, hey, you connect people. You connect different projects really well. Think about PR. Google the Hey, what school has the best PR program? Georgetown pops up. I said, I'm going to Georgetown, right? Like didn't even know what the hell PR was, to be honest. And for those who don't know, public relations. There we go. Public relations. Right. He said, well, let's get in the car. Didn't know. We end up driving to D.C. and it was the Million Man March. Now, I'm this 22 year old girl. I'm in the middle of the Million Man March, and it's thousands of Black and Brown people congregating, saying that they want a better life for themselves, and they're here to just hug on each other. There were people hugging on me. I didn't even know who they were. But I knew that this is what humane means. This is what human is. This is what we truly need in terms of moving the needle. Start a great life in D.C. And that's where the the interesting dichotomy of just sports entertainment fell in my lap. And because I can really talk the language of sports and entertainment, I knew grassroots organizing at the time, but really wanted to understand, like, man, there's a different level of social impact in sports, and people haven't touched touch that yet. Very much so it was like a player would go to a Boys and Girls Club, sign a couple of balls and they leave. But I was like, no, there's something more here that we can systemically change the dynamic of people's lives. And one thing led to another. Ended up working for management company at sports and entertainment. And then the pandemic happened, right. So everything crashed. Especially for sports.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yeah. Jesus, right?
Veronne Clark: Yeah. And simultaneous My name is Akilah. Not Jesus. But yes.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I love this. Let's get into it. One thing led to another.
Veronne Clark: And simultaneously, as I was trying to understand how can we push the needle forward were more I started my own agency WIN. Solutions, and this is where I would help corporations and nonprofit entities meet in the middle. Like, how can these corporations and social impact strategies really meet with this nice gumbo? And through that, How's your roux?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Oh, girl. Tasty. Tasty. Do you? Can you make gumbo?
Veronne Clark: You know. You know I am from the South. Sorry.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: However- Should we not have this on live?
Veronne Clark: Don't embarrass me. Sorry. I can. I'm vegetarian. I can make gumbo.
[laughter]
Dr. Akilah Cadet: No girl.
Veronne Clark: So we. I ended up starting that particular agency, doing some incredible work on the private sector. And a mentor again knocked on me and said, hey, you can do really great work in college athletics. I said, yeah, I'm cool. Yeah, I'm having a good life in D.C. some projects were really taking off for me, and before you know it, he calls me. I was like, where is it? He's in Mississippi. And I'm like, no, I don't want to go to Mississippi. Hell no. So he calls me back again. George Floyd ended up passing away. I think two days before he gives me the second-
Dr. Akilah Cadet: He was murdered.
Veronne Clark: Correct. Yes. No, correct. After the murder of George Floyd. He gives me a call and says, how can I help the Black community? And mind you, this is the white man who doesn't need anything from me. And that's when I the light bulb really, really went off. And I said, wow, there's people out there who don't look like me, but absolutely want to help. And want to put themselves in position to to be allies and to help in a way that could be detrimental to their own lives. And through that, I leaned in a little bit more and said, hey, what is it that you truly want me to to lean into? And he was like, Ole Miss is looking for a consultant, and they're looking for a consultant to build out their social responsibility arm for their athletics department. Hold on. I can be in consultant. It's in athletics. They haven't done this one. This is in 2020. Something like this hasn't already been happening at Ole Miss. What the heck is that about? And ended up going. Packed up my stuff. And I said if I'm a social impact professional, like I say I am, go to where the people need you. Mississippi was the poorest. Is the poor state in America had the most food deserts. I would be naive to not go, right? So did that for about nine months and got tapped again from a friend. And it was another sports team in the NBA and they were like, hey, you want to come to Sacramento?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: And I'm like, what's what is what? What is what's what is this?
Veronne Clark: - Where is Sacramento?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: - Don't do that. My hometown.
Veronne Clark: - Where?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: - It's the capital. Where is Sacramento?
Veronne Clark: It gave you all me.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Fair. And looked at it deeper.
Veronne Clark: And at the time, Black and Brown girls were being abducted at an all time rate high. In Sacramento was top ten in the market, and Black and Brown boys were being expelled than any other race in Sacramento had the highest rate of that at the time. One of the largest school districts in America.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yeah.
Veronne Clark: And I said, if I'm saying that I'm a social impact professional, let's go to where the people need me. So I ended up in Sacramento, and that has been the root of really my career of understanding. What is the problem? What is my skill set? How can I help in the capacity of just bridging the gaps between corporate America in sports and utilizing dollars through that vehicle to make change, right. So that's just been the root of all of it. And one thing led to another. Got tapped for the the Golden State Valkyries, helping to build an identity of a team. That is to your point, one of the first things that I asked, you know, natives who are in the Bay Area, when you think of the Bay Area, what do you think of? And mind you, people were like, you're going to Oakland? Why the hell would you do that right there? Like, really? They were asking me that and I would just ask the question like, well, what are you when you would think of Oakland, what do you think of? And just the overall Bay Area? They're powerful words, right? Pride, power, excited, family. Activism. You know what I mean? Innovation. And I'm like, what is this propaganda that people in the media. It's just part of white supremacy. So San Francisco gets more credit. But the violence or crimes or the bippin, smash and grabbing. It's the same between San Francisco and Oakland. But you know, when you have more of a diverse city, they want to act as if it's just only happening on this side. I feel safer in Oakland than I do in San Francisco. And because I'm part of this community, I respect the community and I value my community. Whether it is a houseless person or someone who owns the restaurant. Like it's the energy is the same, you know? And I think that that sense of community here is great. A lot of people don't realize that the Valkyries are headquartered here and Oakland, California. So the Sephora Performance Center is right downtown. It's a central hub. It's also very beautiful.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I always love to go there. I'm so glad I get to go. All the time.
Veronne Clark: We invite you all the time.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: You do, you do. And that's because. And this is like, this is a tiny, tiny little part of the overall success of the Valkyries. Tiny, tiny.
Veronne Clark: And it's true because the president said so. So... Thanks, Jess.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Which I which I love, but I mean, how many, how many opportunities can you get where you do have a pro team on this level that says, yeah, no, Akilah has a part. And and what we're doing because there's an understanding that I'm also part of Oakland, but I am also community. And community is important to who we are, right?
Veronne Clark: Yes. As a team.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: So I love.. Listen, this doesn't work right without the community.
Veronne Clark: Yes. But it's absolutely beautiful to see. So like Sacramento is my hometown and I was there. Now everyone's going to how old I am. I was there when the Monarchs were created.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Jesus. Don't do that. Are you a dinosaur? You're a dinosaur.
Veronne Clark: Again it's Akilah. I am not Jesus. But.
[laughter]
Yeah, and I remember my my mom's not my my father, my mom's second husband. He was fucking asshole. And in public, everyone knows. And so we were all having a meal at a restaurant. We're talking about the WNBA in Sacramento was getting a team, and he was like, no one's going to watch women's sports.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: That's why she divorced him. Good job, Mom. Good job!
Veronne Clark: But no one's going to watch women's sports. And here I was 12, and I was just like. And I was really into basketball. I was playing basketball. I was like, that is going to be my career. Like, I'm going to be a pediatrician, too. But I'm going to play this sport. And this man was just saying that no one would want to celebrate us. Monarchs came in and we have a championship. People were going to games, getting season tickets and to see the Monarchs be built and also purple. And then for me to have my second life. I lived in the Bay Area longer than I have in Sacramento, and I live in Oakland. I own in Oakland. And then I found out that I get to go through this process again as an adult with a WNBA team. Who's also purple. But we say...
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Violet.
Veronne Clark: Violet. Right. Get it right. Valkyrie's why... I want you to know that I interviewed someone and they're like, it's a Valkyrie's purple. I said, no, no, no, no, it's a Valkyries violet.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Thank you for correcting them. I will always correct because I have to because I apparently am one of the owners of the Valkyries, so.
Veronne Clark: - I have to go...
Dr. Akilah Cadet: - Bizarre. I have to go and correct people all the time. Sidebar. We did a public appearance with Violet, the mascot and...
Veronne Clark: That's so good. It was so... It was the adorablest thing ever. It was so much fun. I love seeing Violet because this is the representation. It's lovely in so many ways. It's the glasses for me.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: It's the glasses.
Veronne Clark: Yeah, I'm a glasses wearer, so I'm like, I feel seen. Get it? See what I did there.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: You did that, yup. Yeah okay. Thank you. But no here being in Oakland and now being able to be part of a team is just a wonderful gift. I won't have to do anything with you the next season. I mean, I clearly will. But I won't do anything with you the next season. I'm like, look what I did. I, you know, to to be part of it, which I like, I don't know, I love on so many levels. Also, I love seeing adults lose their shit over Violet. Like. Is that a little strange? I don't know. Is that?
Veronne Clark: But we love that they love Violet for sure. Well, the thing is, joy. The world is fucked. And and and Violet is bringing adults joy, teenagers joy, kids joy.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Absolutely. And I really, really love seeing that. I think sports in general are bringing people joy. I think women's sports are bringing people joy. And it just, I don't know, it's just wonderful and great in so many ways. So I just want to tell folks how we met, because I think it's really important that we document our little meet cute. So. Veronne was a guest at our Oakland Roots, Rooted and Rising. We had an inaugural conference earlier this year for all about getting women and non-binary folks into sports. It was sold out. It was a wonderful, wonderful event and you were there. Saw you at the end being very judgmental.
Veronne Clark: The lies!
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I know. - Oh I was there rooting everyone on.
Veronne Clark: - You were rooting. No, you're cheering everyone on. But you were definitely like because I now know you, you were just plotting and scheming, plotting and scheming to figure out.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I was connecting the dots.
Veronne Clark: You were connecting the dots. For sure. Right. This is why we we work well as friends. Just like connecting the dots, connect the dots. And so I was like, well, I'm about to get into the Valkyries because that's what it was going to connect, because I was like, the president spoke earlier in the panel anyway. So I'm like, this is my time. It's going to happen.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yes. And so we started chatting and then you went into this crossed arm stance. I said, you d'you hoop? You said, how'd you know? I said, because that's a basketball stance.
Veronne Clark: No, you know what it is? What? I don't want to be real vulnerable on this podcast, but, like, I'm still navigating, like, my body posture. And how Really? Sometimes that could be like, that isn't intimidating. And this is what I'm learning, y'all. Like.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: So this is very intimidating. But if you go here, yeah. It's more, Do you know what? Huh? Do you know why? Well tell me, teach me. I'm a Virgo and I know too many things. Okay. So like when we when we cross our arms, we're closing ourselves off to people.
Veronne Clark: Fair. That's it. That's all that it means. So it just doesn't allow for opportunities. If you bring your hand to the side, you're open. Your hands to the side, you're open. Yeah. Right? And if you are a hand talker you're definitely like open. So that's it.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: For sure. And so interesting because your body posture is lovely. Look at this. Look at this. You're showing off.
Veronne Clark: I mean hey, you got 3000 cameras running here. Yeah. No. I'm kidding. Anyhoo, I talk shit about you and you liked it. And then we had, we had a, we had happy hour not too long after that. And I forgot because your calendar invite didn't come through for some reason. And then I hit you up and it's like, are we still on? Are we?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yeah. And I was there immediately. I feel like there was an atmospheric - river and I came to you.
Veronne Clark: - You absolutely were late. Yup. 100% 30 minutes.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: - I will never forgive myself for that.
Veronne Clark: - I should have left. You should have left. She stood me up. Technically. You stood me up. But I was worth the wait.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Indeed. Goddamn it, you were.
[laughter]
You were. Oh, my goodness, you were. Yes. Yeah. So ever since we've been able to collaborate, which is great. But every time I'm with you, it's like a fucking podcast. So now that we're on a podcast. Well, can I ask you a question?
Veronne Clark: See, that's what I was going to let you do. Okay. So you've also had an incredible opportunity to work with our Ascending Stars program. Yes. And you were one of the speakers. And when I tell you the- it was a wide range of individuals, right, from early in their careers to transitioning to, I mean, how those people that were 50 years old in there, that was getting information walk. Can you walk me through like one, that moment and how did that experience feel with, you know. We are literally crafting a lot of our community programing based on the needs, right?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yes. There's a lot of times there's student focused area things that are going on within sports and entertainment, and then there's maybe seniors that folks, you know, focus on or so on and so forth. But it was just interesting dichotomy between. There was this like messy middle folks, right? The folks that are just trying to figure out their world and we're like, man, we want to target these folks, right? You came in and talked about leadership. Talked about just the the nuances of corporate America. And the intersectionality.
Veronne Clark: And the intersectionality. Of that ties to imposter syndrome. Indeed.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yup. Indeed. Like, tell us about just your experience of working with community with a sports team or WNBA sports team specifically.
Veronne Clark: I mean, it was great. I really enjoyed my outfit. It was cute. It was. Jesus. So it was so great, I did. I really like my outfit. It felt good. I had a vintage 1982 Final Four T-shirt on and jean tuxedo that no one can find Liz Claiborne and a DÔEN white miniskirt. It was silk. It was great. But I think the the thing that's most important to me, anything Valkyries, is that I have an opportunity to talk to a room of people who aren't seen, validated and heard because there's a lot of it's not intention, there's a lot of action to make sure you have women and non-binary folks in the room who are who need the support to continually be leaders, right? And that's what changes the the whole game. So for me to go in there and say, look this little bit about my journey, do a power, you know, keynote and have my little miniskirt on and cuss and be a boss and do all these things. It shows people that you can be whoever you want to be, right in that space. I also love that let's get Rakuten to be sponsor. I also love that Rakuten like really is is supporting this type of programing and storytelling. And I bring that up purposely because Adrienne, the COO of Rakuten, also spoke at that event. And as someone who's in charge of this massive company who has done a lot with the Warriors and now is continually doing that now with the Valkyries, to be transparent and be vulnerable about what it's like, even in like one of the highest positions to say, like, you know, sometimes you have to be yourself. Sometimes I have imposter syndrome. Those things are really, really powerful. And so for me, I got to experience something that you have, like, you know, you are you make a cookie. And the reason why I say it's a cookie, it's like you're baking something. And so it's down to a recipe. We're gonna have this much baking soda this much. And it's very thoughtful. All these details are in there. So when people walk in, they can feel seen, validated and heard. You have brand partnerships that also have the opportunity to be themselves and be celebrated. Because anytime you're in a room full of people who look like you, feel like you, and they are just open and sponges, it gives us the energy to keep doing the things that we have to do to move forward, to do the next talk, or hire the next person or partner with the next person. And I think, I think that's why the programing that you have is so, so powerful. And I want to just elaborate too. Like it's definitely a we thing, right?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: It is a we thing. You know, the Golden State Valkyries, we are. It's crazy. The leadership team is a group of women, boss women who are crushing it.
Veronne Clark: Exceptional. 70 odd full time members. So a small lean team. But on a community front, we have four key main pillars education, wellness, civic engagement and economic development. And as we looked at what makes the most sense, the first thing first is like, how can we ensure that the data is intact and what are the things that are going on in the community that truly needs attention, right? So we we casted out a survey to understand what are some of the community needs, etc. and then, mind you, a lot of people don't know this too is like there's a 7% layover between the Golden State Valkyrie season - ticket holders to the Warriors, right?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: - Oh, I know that. Yes.
Veronne Clark: So that means there is a net new market of individuals who was trying to just learn more about this brand. And to your point, feel seen with this brand, right? So when we were going out about, you know, just doing different community activations at the root of it, and I told our team this all the time, it's a feeling. We want people to leave with something as their spirit is is intact or their spirit is connected to this, this, you know, activation, right? And letting them know that it was with them in mind, right? To every little intricate detail from when you interact with the security, when you interact with the anyone, right? That it's made with them in mind. And we have in terms of education, we have three main pieces here which is. Literacy. With literacy, If you are in the third grade not reading at the third grade reading level, there's an 80% chance you can end up in the system.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: - We want to combat that, right?
Veronne Clark: _ Yes. Yes. We want to make sure that kids know reading is cool. It's also a gateway to other avenues and getting the resources and things that you need. STEM, right? We understand that girls are becoming uninterested into STEM programs around middle school age, and it's a direct correlation to the wage gap, right? So we want to ensure that we can provide resources and opportunities for them to dream and just to see themselves in these certain scenarios where STEM is at the root. And then last underneath education is mentorship. There are people right now that don't know that you can have a full time job of putting something on the center, hung at the games. You know, there's so many opportunities that are connected to sports that we want to expose not only young people, but people who are just becoming involved with not only the brand, but sports and entertainment, right? And then wellness. We want to keep girls in sports. We want people to know that you can be the next Jess Smith, Veronne Clark, the Ohemaas that you can be, the next that. And you don't have to-
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Kayla Thornton.
Veronne Clark: The Kayla Thornton, right? And you don't have to be a pro, you know what I mean? You can still be connected to the game and still and still have all of the different characteristics that sports bring you, right? And then thinking about civic engagement like our fans, man, to your point, there at the intersection, a lot of marginalized folks, right? So we want to ensure that we are being bold. And we have this sense of community where we're tackling the issue together, right?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Yeah. So one thing to keep in mind is that no one is marginalized. People are historically excluded, right? Or systemically excluded. And the reason why I say that is when we say like marginalized, we're we're putting the onus on the people of these oppressed groups.
Veronne Clark: That's good. Right? That's good. And so when we point out the reason, the how and why, that's what gets to your magic sauce. So if folks didn't catch what you're putting down, 7% Warriors season ticket holders converted to a Valkyries season ticket holder. So that means you've brought in 93% of a new crowd. Come on. Because they feel more representation with the Valkyries, the team, the vibes that they're getting right and that environment. That's not an easy that's not an easy thing to do. And I own a sports team and it's not easy. And that's something that should be commended. And the reason why that is, is because the world is fucked. And the Valkyries bring softness and they bring humanity. They bring all the things that are are needed in the moment to kind of keep moving forward. That's why that 52 year old woman is going to lose her mind over Violet. Because Violet feels, feels good. Right? And that's the thing about the Valkyries that I think is is so incredibly powerful. And then to the we I know the Valkyries. Are we? Because I'm part of the success. And that's a direct relation to the focus of the community work that you've done. Ohemaa. Jess. Everyone. Shout out to Dom. Like everyone who has worked on the team, Maddie and Ryan, with marketing and branding and the storytelling and you, the the dot connector, connecting all the dots. So with that said, Hard question, are you ready?
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Uh-Oh.
Veronne Clark: Talk to me.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: What are you doing for pockets of joy?
Veronne Clark: Hoo. Oh, okay. For pockets of joy. Wow. Besides me, obviously.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I mean, of course you, 'kay?
Veronne Clark: Pockets of joy. I'm gonna be honest. These days, pockets of joy look like 20 to 30 minutes talking on the phone with my mother. Talking to my father, right? When you're on this dream of of something again that's larger than yourself, I haven't. I see my peoples once a year right on a short window. And I know that it's for a good cause. And so for me, joy now is is when I do go home and I put my feet, literally my actual feet in the grass. The country back roads of South Carolina.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Not to be confused with Petey Pablo.
Veronne Clark: Yeah. No no no. No no. Right.
[laughter]
You know, joy for me, is just staying grounded and understanding that, again, none of this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with unity and community and how we can utilize our different gifts to to beat down systemic issues. So, yeah, thank you for that question.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: No thank you. I just know I will get on a plane for you. Wherever you wind up, We're going to be together forever. But the most important thing is that you need to Keep Being Amazing! Oh, don't forget that. I mean, I know you are. I mean that for me. I was a two. And you were a...
Veronne Clark: I was definitely. A point guard. Yeah. For sure.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: So you were a shooting guard?
Veronne Clark: Yes. You got you got a little shot on you. Oh.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Love friend. Thank you so much. This is awesome! For coming in. I think we have to go get a drink now.
Veronne Clark: No, for sure. Okay, cool. Like, I love you.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: I love you, too. Thank you. Oh, this is cute.
Dr. Akilah Cadet: Big love and gratitude to our guests for showing up with truth, humor, and of course, humanity. If this conversation moved you, you got to like it. You got to share it. You have to talk about it, bring it into your circle, spaces and places because that's how change multiplies. You can catch more episodes wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full series produced by Ciel Media and me on the Ciel Media YouTube channel. Now what is that YouTube channel? What you need to subscribe to so you can get more of this. But until next time, stay curious Find your joy and Keep Being Amazing.