Huskies men’s volleyball assistant coach, Julie Gordon, has spent a lifetime in the sport, including as both a player and a coach. She grew up with volleyball, playing for a pair of Canadian universities, in addition to being a member of Team Canada Beach Volleyball, winning medals on the international stage, and now coaching numerous levels. Yet, through all of her achievements and involvement, one of the dearest projects in her heart is the Project Worthy Scholarship, which she co-founded with friend and Canadian Olympian, Brandie Wilkerson.
The goal of Project Worthy is to increase the representation of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or marginalized Person of Colour) community in Canadian volleyball by directly supporting BIPOC athletes on the rise. The original idea came about from simply wanting to give individuals a chance that they may not be fortunate enough to otherwise have.
“With everything happening with different racial injustices in the world, and that coming more to light, we decided we wanted to do something about it that was within our control. We have a voice, and even if it’s something small, we wanted to do our part,” Gordon explained. “During my coaching career, I noticed that there were a lot of white athletes in the gym. This is an issue at all clubs in Toronto and across the country. I have often found that athletes in the gym often don’t reflect the cities the club represents. I just remember thinking, ‘why are there so many white athletes here?’ It was very eye-opening to me. I have had different teammates and influencers in my life that have been people of colour, and we need to bring more representation into this sport that we love.”
Growing up, Wilkerson experienced first-hand the differences in opportunity for people of colour. The 29-year-old, who in 2021 was the first person of colour to represent Canada in Olympic beach volleyball, is grateful that she was fortunate enough to have others support her when she did not otherwise have the resources to. It is with this in mind, as well as the experiences of people of colour around the world, that she started this project with Julie Gordon.
“I think it was layered, and [due to] my personal story as well. I wouldn’t be the player I am today, and wouldn’t even be in sports if it wasn’t for many people chipping in financially when it came to equipment, club fees, and rides to tournaments,” Wilkerson explained. “Also when the heavy social justice movement was happening around North America, it was very overwhelming for me because it felt so big. So, I think when Julie and I came together, we wanted to figure out a way to play our part with the resources we had, and that’s when Project Worthy started. It has been a rewarding and motivating experience so far.”
Wilkerson believes that all individuals, no matter their skin colour or background, should experience the thrill of sports, and not only because of the competition behind it, but more importantly for the lessons learned along the way. This is precisely the intent of Project Worthy and the Project Worthy Scholarship.
“I think sports play a special role in peoples’ lives, whether they’re fans or athletes. It’s just something different. Even if you’re not going to be a professional athlete, it’s a gateway to community, [and to] learning a lot about yourself and [your] values,” Wilkerson explained. “It just gives so much, that I would never want anyone to miss out on that opportunity, but unfortunately, there’s just so many people in [a position to miss out]. If we’re talking about equality, we need to make sure everyone has a chance to have those experiences and grow.
Currently, Project Worthy offers a scholarship to a deserving indoor club volleyball athlete in the BIPOC community that is competing in the 16U, 17U or 18U club season. Other criteria considered include community involvement and acts of selflessness more generally. The funds from the scholarship help cover base club fees for the recipients, and this past January marked the inaugural awarding of the scholarship, which went to Joshua Nwosu from Edmonton, Alberta.
Gordon’s long-term goals are simply to continue to spread the message, and to gain more funding to be used for helping others.
“For now, we’re just giving it to one athlete, but we’re hoping to increase the number of scholarships we give out each year. The first year, Brandie and I invested our own money [in order] to scale it. It’s a passion project for us, and we’re not getting paid to do this. So, it’s growing slowly,” Gordon said. “We applied for some grants, and will be running clinics this summer with all the funding going to the scholarship. Hopefully, as we do more activities, we can increase the number of scholarships yearly.”
Wilkerson has the same ideas, and wants to also focus on building partnerships through her brand and platform.
“Moving forward, we want to have regular clinics where all the money goes to where people can meet, learn skills, or whatever else. We want more athletes to get the scholarship, and partnering with some brands or community events would be great ways to spread the message. Obviously, with my sports platform being at the forefront, I think there are many sponsorships that I get personally which are also interested in what I do on the side,” she explained.
The logo for the Worthy Project is a crown, and the meaning behind it is quite powerful: ‘You can’t wear a crown when your head is tilted down,’ as Brandie and Julie always say. “The crown is something Brandie and I both appreciate, [and] for me, [it’s about] remembering that you’re of worth and value. So, ‘hold your head high’ is basically the route we were going for,” Gordon explained.
Having a platform like Wilkerson’s, especially on the Olympic stage, is a huge asset for spreading the message of the Worthy Project and scholarship. Wilkerson wants to take advantage of this platform to push her story of being an immigrant from a low-income neighbourhood who against all odds made the Olympics and to highlight that anyone can do it.
“Shockingly enough, I’m the first person of colour [to represent] Canada in Beach Volleyball at the Olympics, [and] I definitely don’t want to be the only one. I want more people of colour representing Canada. I think many people have such a narrow idea of what Canadians look like, [yet] diversity is something that we take pride in. And while [it is still growing], diversity is a big part of the makeup of [Canada], and is the reason why my family came to this country,” Wilkerson stated. “I want future Olympians to represent the diversity that Canada has the potential to be, and that means [BIPOC Canadians entering] spaces where you typically wouldn’t see people of colour.”
Gordon understands the value and importance of Wilkerson’s brand when it comes to growing Project Worthy, especially with her friend training to make the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
“It’s everything. From a personal standpoint, I don’t know that I would be in a place where I would be comfortable doing this project by myself. I’m white, and there’s an interesting dynamic that goes with that. I feel Brandie can speak from her own experiences, which allows her [voice] to resonate much more, and so many athletes and people look up to her as a person. Having her promote it and share her story is everything,” Gordon stated.
To learn more about this fantastic cause and how you can either donate directly or purchase some amazing products, head to their website at https://www.projectworthyscholarship.com/
