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Honoring the Life of Bill Russell - "The Single Most Devastating Force in the History" of Basketball (1934 - 2022)

Bill Russell is known for his incredible history and astonishing feats in his basketball career with the Boston Celtics. He was a Hall of Famer, led the Celtics to 11 championships, and became the first Black head coach in a major American sports league.

This past Sunday, he passed away at the age of 88. Today, we want to honor his legacy and celebrate his mark left on this world, one that emphasized supporting his community and pursuing seemingly unreachable dreams.

It was Russell's incredible rebounding that left him named one of the best players in basketball history. His shot blocking and speed changed the game of pro basketball. Russell's awards on the court were numerous. He was recognized at the NBA's most valuable player 5 times, was an All-Star 12 times, won a gold medal in the Olympics for the U.S. in 1956, and led the Celtics to 8 consecutive NBA titles between 1959 and 1966. He was the ultimate winner - so much so that the NBA Finals MVP trophy is named after him.

Off of the courts, Russell was remembered for his engagement with civil rights issues - challenging our systems in place and doing what he could to support his community. In 1936, Russell participated in the March on Washington where he heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech from the front row. After the murder of Medgar Evers, Russell traveled to Mississippi to work with Evers's brother and opened an integrated basketball camp. In addition to this, Russell stood behind Muhammad Ali when he refused to join the armed forces during Vietnam and supported athletes who chose to take a knee during the national anthems in more recent years.

His extensive activism off the courts made him beyond worthy of receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he was awarded in 2011 by President Barack Obama. This award honored Russell as "someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men".

Russell's desire to address flaws and inequities in the system stemmed from his childhood. Born in 1934 in Louisiana, Russell had a warm home life, but a childhood full of racism. At 9, he and his family moved to Oakland, California, where they "endured the racial slights endemic of the time". He lost his mother at the young age of 12, leaving him and his brother to be raised by his single father. He continued to endure racist comments and discrimination throughout his collegiate and professional basketball career. When he joined the Celtics in 1956 he was their only Black player.

“Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps,” Adam Silver, NBA commissioner said. “Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity."

Our hearts and thoughts are with Russell's family and all those who loved him.
June 2022 Conference Summary in Photos and Videos
We had an inspiring conference in June after two years of virtual gatherings due to COVID. If you missed that, you can still be a part of the experience through the photos from the 2022 GlobalMindED conference:


Video remarks:

Save the Date! GlobalMindED 2023 June 7-9 in Denver: Join College Delegations, First Gen/Diverse Students and Inclusive Leaders in Education, Business, Government and Foundations
Honoring the 2022 Inclusive Leader Award Winners. Please see their stories:
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