Sabrina Jenkins, director of special events for the Atlanta Braves baseball team, wants the few . the proud . the sports-loving populace. But Jenkins doesn’t want you to play sports, per se. She wants more African American young people, students and graduates to matriculate into the front office positions of major American sports teams. This indefatigable and multifaceted businesswoman’s work has earned her the Atlanta Business League Award as one of the 100 most influential African American women in Atlanta. Jenkins works to increase minority presence on the business side of sports in three key ways:
1. Mentorship: “I remember 17 years ago when I started with the Braves. I didn’t have anyone or any mentors to turn to . in order to get my foot in the door,” she says. “To be able to do that for other kids is definitely a privilege.”
2. Supply diversity: Jenkins hosted a supply diversity trade show recently at the 755 Club inside the Atlanta Braves stadium. The purpose of the trade show was to help showcase entrepreneurs who wish to procure coveted contracts with the Braves. “We brought in 40 minorities and women businesses, and they’ll be able to show off their products and services to the Braves front office people . to try to get business.”
3. National Association of Black Sports Professionals: As the Atlanta chapter president, Jenkins works to create a mechanism to make it easier for sports loving students and graduates to get hired by professional sports teams for front office positions. “What we try to do is to connect people with the sports industry and sports-related industries to help young kids coming out of college get their foot in the door of the front offices of sports organizations,” she says. “It’s an organization that I’m proud of.”
Jenkins pride is sure to swell as the ratio of blacks in front office positions gets closer to the percentage of blacks on the actual playing field. –terry shropshire
