The Cal Athletics DEIBJ Office attended the 2025 Athlete Activism Summit in Portland, Oregon, hosted by @AthleteAlly . Representing our department were Ladislao Rodriguez (Director of DEIBJ Operations and Engagement), Kai Barham (Sophomore, Track & Field), and Cal Fritsch (Cal Lacrosse alumnus and Athletics Videographer).
This national gathering brings together LGBTQ+ student-athletes, staff, and allies from across the country to engage in critical dialogue on inclusion, belonging, and the power of sport to drive social change. Cal Athletics is proud to continue advancing equity and support for all members of our community.
We’re excited to encourage student-athletes, coaches & staff to apply for this year’s Athlete Activism Summit taking place June 4–7 in the Poconos, Pennsylvania!
📍 Poconos, PA
📅 June 4–7
📝 Application window closes TOMORROW
🎥 Video edited and produced by Cal Fritsch
#acCALerate | #CALiforniaLove
Dr. Brian Bedford, the first black quarterback in the modern era at Cal, returned to his alma mater to share at the Cal Athletics Department at All-Staff Meeting.
He offered insightful commentary at the intersection of his pioneering journey, Black History Month, and his contributions in the classrooms of life, academia, the boardroom, and football.
Cal Athletics & Cal DEIBJ are appreciative of Dr. Bedford’s knowledge, insights and the opportunity to reconnect.
We were pleased to present a special acknowledgment to this Cal alum who embodies the brilliance of Berkeley!
Follow our @CalDEIBJ account to access more inspiring content!
#GoBears | #acCALerate | #WhenUCBerkeley | #YouSeeCal
Video Editor: @rwnhunta
Video Content Support: @jacqlyn.j
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Ashley Li of @calvolleyball !
May is AAPI Heritage Month, and we’re highlighting our student-athlete stories all month long!
Help us reach our goal of 1,500 followers by the end of the academic year!
To celebrate and promote our community, we’ll be hosting an exciting giveaway throughout the month of May. Cal DEIBJ is currently at 1,375 followers and we are trying to get to a total of 1,500 before the end of May…27 more days!
Giveaway Rules:
1. Follow our Instagram account.
2. Tag another Instagram user who isn’t already following us.
Each tag counts as one entry, so tag away for more chances to win!
Don’t miss your chance to participate and win—follow us today and stay tuned for more details!
#GoBears | #aaCALerate | #WhenUCBerkeley | #YouSeeCal
The month of May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and our Cal Athletics DEIBJ office is proud to celebrate and elevate our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities!
#GoBears | #AAPIHeritage | #AccelerateDEIBJ
The last time @Caldeibj x @CalBSAC were in LA for the Black Student Athlete Summit (BSAS), we curated a couple of special experiences just for our @calathletics student-athletes! One of those moments was connecting with Cal/ UC Berkeley alum and @ESPN / @nbatoday producer Demetrius J Harris(@djh1906 ) for a tour of @ESPN Studios!
Check out the special behind the scenes footage that includes a cool #HBCU connection for Johnny Dorsey @rodmyd , @DrTyDouglas , & Demetrius!
@oakwoodu@howarduniversity@dynamicpraise@oakwoodaeolians@emjaefrazier@byron.cardwell1k@masinamayo — we see you!
BSAS fam, we can’t wait to see you all in Oregon!
Thank you Demetrius and Johnny! We celebrate you and your genius!
#acCALerate | #WhenUCberkeley | #YouSeeCal | #GoBears
🎥 editor: @pauldproductions
Spring is in the air and our April 2026 DEIBJ Newsletter is here! This month’s issue is rich with content, culture and community touch-points! Tap in. Share. Enjoy!
#CALiforniaLove | #ACCALerateDEIBJ
@calmwaterpolo student-athlete, Beso Akhvlediani, stopped by our @CalDEIBJ office and taught us a thing or two!
He’s from the country of Georgia and taught us how to say “Go Bears” in 🇬🇪 Georgian:
“Tsavida Datvebo”
A few fun facts about Georgia:
Location: Borders the Black Sea, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Population: Approximately 3.7 million.
Capital: Tbilisi
Language: Georgian, with its own unique alphabet
What do you think about the expansion of our vocabulary for the nutmeg @calwsoc & @calmsoc ? 😊😉⚽️
#CaliforniaLove | #ACCALerateDEIBJ
#SoccerSerious
#FootballFocused
#FutbolFocused
Our @caldeibj reaction to @martushk getting selected in the #wnba2026 draft! Congrats Marta! We celebrate you. Welcome back to the Bay! 🎉💃👏🏿
#CalAlumna
#brillianceofberkeley
Video Credit & Fellow Cheer Leader for Marta: @ladeezlao 😉
Marta Suarez surprises Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with a custom painting! 🎨✨…
Whichever @wnba team that drafts @martushk will welcome a gifted hooper 🏀 AND artistic genius, as demonstrated by this painting she created while at @calathletics / @calwbball to honor @nba legend @kareemabduljabbar_33 !
Our @caldeibj office became a haven for this multigenerational moment with Marta and her dad x @allenhopkinsjr (@bpcmls ) x @drtydouglas —highlighting the special player and person that is Marta Suarez.
We celebrate you Marta and this new exciting season of your life! Continue to create. Continue to use your genius on and off the court! Continue to play with paint on your hands! We are cheering for you!
#wnbadraft
#wnbadraft2026
#Calalumna
#brillianceofberkeley
Video Edited by @rwnhunta
Event Credit: “We All Want to Change the World: An Evening with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar” hosted by @calalumniassociation — thank you for facilitating Marta’s access to Kareem Abdul Jabbar at your event
Let’s hear it for Geralen Stack-Eaton (@gstackeaton ), Head Coach of @CalWGYM who rolled the Honorary First Pitch at the 5th annual Women Leader’s of Cal (WLC) Cal Kickball Game!
We’re cheering for Coach Stack-Eaton and Cal Women’s Gymnastics as they prepare to compete in the NCAA Regionals this weekend! Special thanks to Women Leaders of Cal, @calvolleyball , and the Fun Committee for their partnership and leadership with us in making this year’s kickball experience a success!
#ACCALerateDEIBJ | #CALiforniaLove | #GoBears
