Inspire Change | Jaylon Smith

A few years ago a bill was passed to start research on building a trail in Texas from Galveston to Houston. This route is where freed slaves traveled after hearing about their emancipation in 1865. Join Cincinnati Bengals safety Michael Thomas as he travels that trail to learn more about the history of Juneteenth.

NFL Media, Los Angeles Chargers join forces with the Brotherhood Crusade to inform the youth about health, education, economic development, and institutional building to learn, thrive, connect, and serve the community of Inglewood, CA.

For more information on The Brotherhood Crusade, please visit NFL.com/inspirechange.

The grandson of a civil rights icon honors the legacy of HBCU stars that have made an impact in the NFL and beyond.

The Brotherhood Crusade has been at the forefront of social justice for the community of Inglewood, California for 54 years. These NFL Changemakers have partnered with the Chargers to ensure their students 'Bolt Up' the success ladder.

For more on "The Brotherhood Crusade" and how you can support their mission, visit the "Inspire Change" tab on NFL.com.

How Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown took athletes' social activism to a new level | 'Inspire Change'

Alabama Appleseed is an Inspire Change grant partner that is making a difference by helping to free over-sentenced individuals from the prison system.

Former NFL All Rookie Special Teamer Johnson Bademosi has been a vocal advocate for grassroots organizations that push criminal justice reform in his hometown of Washington D.C. One of these organizations, The Free Minds Book Club uses literary techniques to help address trauma and build community support for positive re-entry into society.

To find out more about Free Minds Book Club and their impact visit the Inspire Change tab on NFL.com.

Dr. Topeka K. Sam, founder of Ladies of Hope Ministries, talks about how she's advocating for formerly imprisoned women to have a second chance at life by giving them shelter in the "HOPE House."

When it comes to the phrase love thy neighbor, the Jacksonville Jaguars really practice what they preach. The team, alongside Changemaker award winner, Suzanne Pickett and local business owners have begun a revitalization project on the Historic OutEast community that will benefit generations to come. To learn more about the Jaguars efforts OutEast visit their social impact page on Instagram @jaguarsfoundation.

Using specialized metrics measuring a candidate's HOPE score, the Devoted Dreamers academy looks beyond sports to find the next generation's football superstars and future generation's leaders. As the final selections are made, Don, Devionne, and Tory get a dose of inspiration as they see the possibilities of what football has to offer firsthand.

One of Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins many off-the field contributions to the city of Buffalo, comes in the form of Mentoring. Along with his organization, Dion's Dreamers, Dion has also done work with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization in Buffalo. MENTOR is the largest connector of mentorship opportunities in the country. They work connecting organizations like Big Brother, Big Sisters of America locally to any adults looking for mentorship opportunities making it easier than ever to give back to your community.

Since 2018, Saquon Barkley has donated countless hours to the Covenant House New Jersey, a homeless shelter that also provides job training and social skills to homeless youth. As the official spokesperson for Covenant House New Jersey and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, Saquon has not only inspired other donors to give money and time but has also given the homeless youth of New Jersey a reason not to give up. To see this story and more like it, visit our website at www.nfl.com/causes/inspire-change/.

In Episode 1 of 'Demario's Devoted Dreamers,' Saints Linebacker Demario Davis recalls how mistakes he made as young man nearly derailed his journey to the NFL and the moment he turned it all around.

The NFL is committed to being a force for good, recognizing those are working in their communities to advance social justice. We see you changemakers, and we support you. #InspireChange #ItTakesAllOfUs

One of the four pillars of the NFL's Inspire Change initiative is improving relations between communities and their police. The New York Giants have taken that message to heart by helping to foster positive interactions early. Darius Slayton and Julian Love are hoping their successes with the Far Rockaway Giants continue as the after school program expands to Harlem. To watch the entire Inspire Change series, go to nfl.com/inspirechange.

The NFL family is shining a light on those within our communities who are joining together to create progress in police-community relations, criminal justice reform, education, and economic advancement. We see you, mentors. And we're here to help you create lasting change.

On November 14, 2022, Inspire Change hosted NFL Presents: Empowering Communities Through Representation. Moderated by Steve Wyche from NFL Network, NFL Legend and criminal justice reform advocate Michael Vick joined with Inspire Change grant partners Metropolitan Peace Initiatives and Gideon's Promise to discuss their respective approaches to improving police-community relations by expanding resources dedicated to community programing and public defenders. For more information on the training programs offered by Gideon's Promise and Metropolitan Family Services, please visit https://www.gideonspromise.org/ and https://www.metrofamily.org/.

Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles uses his rough childhood and upbringing as motivation to mentor kids impacted by the juvenile justice system in Arapahoe County, Colorado.

After a deadly hate crime rocked Buffalo this year, Bills players rallied, encouraging their city and the nation to "Choose Love" instead of hate. The message inspired a collaboration between the NFL and LA-based artist Ruben Rojas that is unifying the two coasts ahead of tonight's season opener between the Bills and the Rams.

On July 25, 2022, Inspire Change hosted NFL Presents: Advancing a More Equitable Workforce, convening non-profit leaders and NFL Legends dedicated to opening doors to opportunities for people who have traditionally been overlooked and excluded in our workforce. From providing access to specialized training and education, skills development, and connections to employers to supporting financial literacy programs and giving technology to underserved high school students, Inspire Change partners and NFL Legends shared how they are reducing barriers to opportunity and helping to build a more equitable workforce. Speakers discussed the recurring challenges they see employers struggle with when expanding hiring pools and how their training programs and employer partnerships serve as the bridge. 

Moderated by Kimmi Chex from NFL Network, the event featured Warrick Dunn, former running back, three-time Pro Bowler and 2004 Walter Payton Man of the Year; Sam Lewis, Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC); Jason McCourty, former defensive back and on-air host of Good Morning Football; and Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. 

For more information on the career development and training programs offered by ARC and Per Scholas, please visit www.antirecidivism.org and www.perscholas.org.

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins hosts a roundtable after the Buffalo mass shooting with current and former Bills players.

Through Inspire Change, the NFL has committed $250M to social justice causes over the next 10 years. Nate Burleson explains how that money is impacting communities across America. To learn more about the NFL's efforts to address barriers to opportunity and equality caused by systemic racism, visit NFL.com/InspireChange. #InspireChange

Eight minutes and 46 seconds: you can do a lot in that span of time. like run a mile, read a bed-time story to a child, or put together a game-winning drive. But forcibly place a knee to a man's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds? That's unfathomable. That's what happened to George Floyd in the final minutes of his life. His murder in broad daylight in May 2020 reignited the Black Lives Matter movement, and forced everyone in our country to open their eyes to the pain Black Americans have faced for years. Damion Square shares George Floyd's story.

It's hard to imagine that it has been two years since the world saw the murder of George Floyd in the streets on Minneapolis. Since then we've seen protests, unity, engagement, and the officer that murdered him convicted on all charges. Doug Williams, Demario Davis, and Justin Reid share their thoughts on Floyd and the change that came after his life was taken away.

On April 4th, Inspire Change hosted a virtual event titled NFL Presents: Drafting Mentors for the Future, convening experts in education and mentoring and NFL players and Legends involved in mentorship on- and off-the-field for a conversation on what mentorship looks like in our changing world.

Speakers reflected on how the mentoring field has evolved to meet the needs of our young people amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the country's racial reckoning over the past two plus years. They underscored the tremendous impact mentors can have on young people by supporting their education and providing positive experiences that bolster their mental health and overall wellness. Speakers shared how mentorship can be more accessible through Everyday Mentoring, where everyone has a role to play, how that can help narrow the gap we have in supporting all young people, and how fans can join players to serve as mentors and support the work players are doing in their communities.

Commissioner Roger Goodell provided remarks on how mentorship has positively impacted his life for decades, and Anna Isaacson, SVP of Social Responsibility, reaffirmed the league's commitment to following the lead of players in advancing social justice and how mentorship cuts across all four pillars of Inspire Change.

Moderated by Kimmi Chex from NFL Network, the event featured Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman and champion of mentoring; Thomas Davis, NFL Legend, three-time Pro Bowler and 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year; Colleen Fedor, Executive Director, The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania, a MENTOR Affiliate; and Artis Stevens, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

For more information about mentoring and ways to get involved, please visit Brothers Big Sisters of America (www.bbbs.org) and MENTOR (www.mentoring.org).