Rickey Bolden '87 - Finding A Way Out
Alisha Filmore '13 - The Pursuit Of Excellence
James T. Mobley '81 - Paying It Forward
Everett Ray '21 - Chasing A Better Me

DALLAS (SMU) - On Sunday, Feb. 19, SMU hosted its 2023 Black Excellence Brunch, which included a panel of four Black former Mustang student-athletes: James T. Mobley '81 (Football), Rickey Bolden '87 (Football), Alisha Filmore '13 (Women's Basketball) and Everett Ray '21 (Men's Basketball). They shared their stories of success after graduation and of Black Excellence with the Mustang student-athletes, alumni and members of the SMU and Dallas community.
 
Guests were welcomed by a speech from Athletic Director Rick Hart before SMU's Director of Inclusive Excellence Brenda Scott moderated the panel. After a video package in which each spoke to the concept of Black Excellence, Scott asked them to discuss the safe spaces they fostered on campus and to share their successes post-SMU. The leaders also offered advice to the current Black SMU student-athletes. Following the panel discussion, the floor was opened for questions, and comments.
 
James T. Mobley ('81) has worked extensively in Cyber Security since graduating from SMU, including as a former CEO, and is also a published author. Of the event, Mobley said: "It means the world to me to be invited. I love this school, and any opportunity that I can give back, and any opportunity that I have where I can share some of the things that I've learned… I'm a big believer in paying it forward. I appreciate Rick and the team inviting me back, and I appreciate the way it was done. It was first class."
 
Mobley noted the positive impact that events like this can have on the future of SMU: "I'm excited and I'm optimistic. There was nothing like this when I was here on campus, and not only to see it, but to see all of the people now who look like me in key roles around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and who also have the passion for it, who aren't just sitting in seats to get a paycheck. All of the folks are driving this with a passion and I think that's going to be a changemaker, I really do, I think it'll make a difference."
 
Alisha Filmore ('13) also works in Cyber Security, but has also started and owns her own fitness brand - Filmore Fit. During the panel, Filmore highlighted she was the only double-minority on the panel, as a Black woman, and noted the continued need for prioritizing inclusion for women specifically in the world of Athletics. Filmore praised organizer Brenda Scott for her role in this conversation taking place on the Hilltop.
 
"Honestly, I think it brings color to the conversation, because we can get so one-dimensional with DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) that we forget the experiences of so many. Being a double-minority, I'm so sensitive to people who may have different experiences to me, but I'm able to say 'I know what that feels like,' and let me be a little bit more accommodating in places that I'm comfortable. So I think when you have a woman, especially a Black woman doing something like that, you're again able to touch so many more people. Unfortunately, as a male, you just don't understand what it feels like to have gender be something you have to account for on a day-to-day basis. Anytime you can add different layers to the puzzle you have the opportunity to include so many more people, because the inclusion part is the hardest part of DEI, and that's what we have to keep striving and working for."
 
Speaking about being part of the Black Excellence Brunch, Filmore stated: "It's an honor, because there's so many talented, marvelous student-athletes they could've chosen, but I see the change that they're putting in place, and even if I was just a guest here today, I would have loved it just as much, because it's saying 'we're being heard.' Hopefully we were able to touch someone who had a similar story to us, in the audience, who's able to say 'I can do, now that I see.' Representation is one of the most important things we can provide to our student-athletes."

During the panel, Rickey Bolden ('87) touched on his experience growing up in Dallas, and the struggles of believing SMU was an attainable goal as young Black man.

"I just think that there are so many intelligent African-Americans in the city of Dallas, and I grew up just eight minutes down the road. I was like 'man, what if the doors were open?' I thought the only way of getting into SMU was Highland Park. And, whether it was correct or not, I just always felt that was the major door that came in here to SMU. And so, I'm looking at all the great athletes, and intelligent brothers and sisters... (and thinking) How do we being to open the door strategically?" 

Bolden went on to explain his theories for resolving issues of this kind, and highlight the need to support Scott as she builds the DEI program at SMU.

"I don't think you just start by opening the door. You look at a person like Brenda, and you say 'how can I begin to build bridges?'" 

Everett Ray ('21), who is working as an Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs, said being invited to be a part of the event was "so special… Being able to give back to the community is huge. Being able to just listen to people that have already kind of walked the path that I'm trying to walk is amazing."
 
One message which was repeatedly present in the panelists' answers was the need for continued support for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion programming, through both administrative support and financial backing. Ray specifically highlighted the need to support Scott in her role: "For someone to get here, not know anybody, to be able to reach out to the people within SMU and to get the right contacts to come here and put on such a great event with what little she's working with in her first year is unbelievable. I really hope the University realizes that, and continues to give her the human capital and monetary capital needed to keep pushing this, and making sure this is top-of-the-line for SMU."
 
Scott is in her first year at SMU. Her impact is clearly already being felt by those on campus and in the community. Scott said: "The guest speakers were amazing. I'm grateful to the staff, family and friends who came out and supported (us). I think the message got across, and that is celebrating our Black student-athlete alumni, as well as their accomplishments. They came to inspire and motivate, and they most definitely inspired me. It was more than I even imagined… Next year I just want it bigger!"

After the conclusion of the event, Scott thanked Hart for his support with the programming, saying: "This is not a box that they're trying to check. They're making it a priority. This resource is here for our Student-Athletes, and we're trying to change the narrative."
Anybody interested in further information on this event, or getting involved with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with SMU Athletics, can email BrendaS@SMU.edu.