Teams align to address issues

Browns, Cavaliers, Indians join to work with community

The Browns, Indians and Cavaliers have formed an alliance “to develop a sustainable and direct strategy to address social injustice facing the city of Cleveland and all Northeast Ohio communities,” the three teams announced Aug. 27 in a joint news release.

The move is being led by the front offices and coaching staffs of all three of Cleveland’s major sports teams.

“The alliance will also focus on improving the relationship between law enforcement and its citizens, encouraging nonpartisan voting activities and increasing the opportunities for quality education for everyone,” the news release also said in outlining the group’s goals.

The alliance is being led by Indians team president Chris Antonetti, general manager Mike Chernoff, Tribe manager Terry Francona, Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski plus Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“We have an extraordinary opportunity to make a lasting impact on society and the Cavaliers are committed to help bring about change,” Altman said in a statement. “The social and economic disparity in our community reveals some ugly truths, and Coach Bickerstaff and I are honored to be at the table to address these issues with such a prominent group of our peers. We never take for granted our place in the fabric of Cleveland and hopefully our coming together inspires others to join us.”

The initial goal of the three teams will be to increase voter awareness with the Nov. 3 election fewer than 10 weeks away. The next step will be to work in partnership with community and civic leaders and minority organizations to address issues impacting individuals.

“We understand the platform our organization has to make a positive impact on these important issues,” Berry said. “When Coach Stefanski and I began discussing how we might be able to elevate and broaden that impact by expanding

the dialogue to our counterparts in Cleveland, it quickly became apparent that partnering with the other teams in our city would help our region come together so we can collectively address the problems that we’ve all been working to help solve independently.”

Indians president Chris Antonetti has an Aug. 31 Major League Baseball

trade deadline looming, but he recognizes there are pressing issues not connected with baseball which the Indians and the two other teams can address.

“We recognize the profound impact that professional sports have on the greater Cleveland community, and the enormous responsibility that comes with such a platform,” said Antonetti. “While the circumstances

that highlighted the need for this partnership are disheartening, Tito, Mike and I are excited by the opportunity to work with such a thoughtful and diverse group of leaders to identify opportunities to be a positive force for change.

“There is a lot of work to do, and we believe that this partnership will serve to amplify our collective impact.”