Big 12 Conference Announces Partnership with Rachel Baribeau
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced a Conference partnership with Rachel Baribeau for the 2020-21 academic year. Baribeau’s I’m Changing the Narrative movement destigmatizing mental and emotional health issues will be available to the Conference and its member institutions. The partnership provides regular programming to supplement and support student-athlete well-being.
“I welcome the opportunity for the Big 12 and its schools to work with Rachel and her I’m Changing the Narrative program,” Bowlsby said. “This impactful platform helps student-athletes to make better choices in their personal lives, while destigmatizing mental and emotional support outreach, and removing barriers to advocate on issues of social justice.”
I’m Changing the Narrative has already been delivered to thousands of student-athletes at over 40 college and universities. In addition to addressing mental and emotional well-being, the program as covers issues related to prejudice, lack of true purpose, poverty, interpersonal relationships, social justice and more.
"Since starting the program in 2016 we have had one central goal: saving and profoundly changing lives by giving permission for those in need to take action within themselves first, and when necessary by seeking outside help and support,” commented Baribeau. “I am humbled and honored to be working with Commissioner Bowlsby, the Big 12 Conference and its member schools. Student-athletes, coaches & support staff are uniquely positioned to be such incredible forces for positive change in society, yet many of them struggle with their own "funky junk" of mental and emotional illness, prejudice, lack of true purpose, poverty, poor interpersonal relationships, and more. At ICTN, we help show a safe path to embrace and transcend those issues, empowering each person to make a change, not only in themselves, but in their teams, schools and communities."
About Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is comprised of 10 Universities – Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The Big 12 is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics conference that encompasses five states with over 40 million people within its geographic footprint. Celebrating its 25th year, the Conference has produced over 680 Academic All-America selections and claimed national championship team titles in 17 of its 23 sponsored sports. Its student-athletes and teams have combined for over 660 individual NCAA titles and 63 team national championships. Nearly 5,000 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually under the Big 12 banner. For more information, visit Big12Sports.com and follow the Conference on Facebook (Facebook.com/Big12), Twitter (@Big12Conference) and You Tube (YouTube.com/Big12Conference).
About Rachel Baribeau
Ms. Baribeau is a graduate of the Auburn University Radio/Television/Film program and as a master of her craft, she delivered insightful commentary to millions of sports enthusiasts via national broadcasters such as Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo, and SiriusXM for 17 years. As the first known female sports reporter to participate in a professional football training camp and was the first female host on SiriusXM ESPNU, her pursuit of delivering an authentic account to her fans was relentless. Rachel is also an avid speaker at many a college, quarterback club, and church. In 2016 she blazed another trail when she founded the movement, #ImChangingtheNarrative. Since August of 2016, she has visited 40 plus campuses talking to young athletes, coaches and staff about being Kings and Queens through purpose, passion and platform; and an increased and real look at mental health and how we deal with these issues. Also, on a deeper level, how we look at/respect women in society as a whole and within their universities. The movement has caught fire with millions of social-media hits and countless lives changed. For more information, visit www.rachelbaribeau.com and follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/Rachelbaribeau), Twitter (@RachelBaribeau), Instagram (@RachelBaribeau) and You Tube (YouTube.com/RachelBaribeau).
