Netflix’s Sisters On Track has teamed with the Colgate Women’s Games to launch the #anybodyseethedream Social Impact Campaign. The new campaign encourages young women to register for the 47th Annual Colgate Women’s Games as a way to bring the film’s themes to life, and focuses on empowering girls across three lanes of impact: Athletics, Mentorship, and Education.
The campaign is in like with the original documentary which spotlights the transformational power of athletics, mentorship, and education, today launched the #anybodyseethedream Social Impact Campaign, sponsored by Colgate Women’s Games. The new campaign encourages young women to register for the 47th Annual Colgate Women’s Games as a way to bring the film’s themes to life, and focuses on empowering girls across three lanes of impact: Athletics, Mentorship, and Education.
The #anybodyseethedream campaign features multiple ways to get involved: the campaign encourages girls and young women to register for the 47th Annual Colgate Women’s Games, the nation’s largest amateur track series open to all girls from elementary school through college and beyond.
The campaign offers virtual and in-person screenings of the Sisters on Track film and an educational discussion guide to amplify the documentary’s key themes, a social media challenge that celebrates participants’ own mentors, and local mentorship opportunities for adults across the country.
Colgate Women’s Games empowers thousands of women to develop a strong sense of personal achievement and self-esteem, including the sisters profiled in Sisters on Track, Tai, Rainn and Brooke Sheppard. Coach Fred Thompson of Brooklyn founded Colgate Women’s Games in 1974 with the generous support of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, which has remained the program’s title sponsor for more than four decades.
Colgate Women’s Games is prominently featured in the documentary as a formative experience for the Sheppard sisters. The Sheppard sisters’ story is one of many that illustrate the value of participating in Colgate Women’s Games. Colgate Women’s Games has a proven track record of creating pathways for young women to pursue their educational goals and achieve their potential, including Cheryl Toussaint, who now serves as the Meet Director for Colgate Women’s Games.
“I was fortunate to be mentored by legendary coach Fred Thompson. Most of my major accomplishments are attributed to disciplines I learned from my experiences in athletics and Colgate Women’s Games,” said Toussaint. “With purpose, guidance, opportunity, and a lot of hard work, I’ve since realized my dream to become a first-generation college graduate in my family and on my team, a homeowner, an entrepreneur, a world-class athlete, and a positive role model for other young women.”
Erica Dottin, #anybodyseethedream campaign producer and Colgate Women’s Games alum, added: “I am so thankful for my experience with Colgate Women’s Games. With the tough love, training and fierce competition that I experienced at the games, I galvanized a commitment to my personal excellence. That’s a huge part of who I am today. I am proud to be part of this community with Cheryl Toussaint, Jean Bell, Diane Dixon and more. And I am honored to give my leadership and experience to the #anybodyseethedream campaign to continue that legacy.”
Sisters on Track celebrates mentorship by profiling the Sheppard sisters, young athletes mentored by Coach Jean Bell, who excelled on their track and field team while living in a homeless shelter with their single mother, Tonia. Bell is head coach of a grassroots community-based track club for girls, Jeuness Track Club Inc. and chief of officials for Colgate Women’s Games. Jeuness Track Club, like Colgate Women’s Games, was established to give young girls the opportunity to grow in the sport of Track and Field while encouraging academic achievement, enriching life experiences, and empowering the next generation.
“It has been so moving to witness the power of mentorship while making this film,” said Sisters on Track co-director Corinne van der Borch. “I am honored that Coach Jean, Tonia and the girls shared their lives with me for this documentary. We’re all grateful to bring the film to a worldwide audience via the Netflix streaming platform. Now that the film is released, I hope audiences will take extra care to lovingly encourage youth of today — just like Coach Jean does. I believe that the film’s impact campaign provides great opportunities for that.”
Inspired by Coach Jean Bell, the #anybodyseethedream campaign celebrates mentors who are changing lives across the nation. Athletes and students are invited to uplift a mentor who has impacted their life by sharing their story on social media. In doing so, they are joining an empowered community of adults and youth who are coming together on Instagram to amplify the value of mentorship and pay it forward.
The #anybodyseethedream campaign is committed to providing opportunities for adults to invest quality time in mentorship. In an era where so much uncertainty has impacted home and school environments worldwide, mentors can help youth increase their likelihood of going to college, develop better attitudes toward school, and practice social and emotional development skills to improve self-esteem and thrive.
For the latest campaign information, to stay involved, and to take action, go to www.SistersOnTrack.com/impact-
