Celebrating the Work
Reflections on The S.I.T. Program
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The Sailing Instructor Training (S.I.T.) program is one of The DSC's two flagship community programs that has been in constant operation for two decades (The other being The DSC's Access-ability program). S.I.T. grads go on to become more than just sailing instructors, and they serve our nation as teachers, health care workers, soldiers and sailors, firemen, and business professionals.
On This Labor Day 2020, I celebrate the contributions that our S.I.T.s and S.I.T. graduates have made to The DSC's culture and community.
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Devin, who now serves our country in the Navy, teaches Bay Brook Elementary kids to sail - 2017/2018 |
The S.I.T. program has produced some of our finest sailing instructors over the past decade: Juan; Lucas; Crystal; Taz; Cam; Sonya/Troy; Jaz; Ana... the list goes on. The ample staff contributions of the S.I.T. program enabled us to expand our summer camp, offer Access Dinghy lessons, and launch a Sailing League for young professionals. This most recent summer, more than half of our summer staff were S.I.T. graduates.
S.I.T. grads are thought leaders within our staff community as we seek to become a more diverse and inclusive community sailing center. Not all of our S.I.T. sailors are people of color, but many are. Not all of our S.I.T.s are poor, either, though some of our staff, White and Black, do rely on their instructor wages to pay for school and to support their families. Regardless of their skin colors, genders, or sexual orientations, S.I.T. grads are instrumental as we seek more diverse, equitable sailing opportunities for a broader population.
Individually and collectively, S.I.T. grads have given voice to the challenges we wrestle with as Americans. "How do we encourage diversity without falling prey to tokenism?" "How do we create programming and systems that are less anglo-centric within sailing?" "How do we celebrate Blackness in sailing in ways that do not culturally appropriate nor devalue the non-White experience?" Though these issues are complex, S.I.T. graduates consistently plot the best course forward as we wrestle with these and other questions.
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The S.I.T. class of '15 learned a little about boatbuilding and a lot about hard work. This class was the first year that provided a separate track for second year S.I.T.s |
Personally, The S.I.T. program has been impactful in my life. Taz Prater, who is now a Navy officer and nuclear engineer, became a close personal of mine. Other S.I.T. grads, especially persons like Dytanya, Cameron, and Crystal, have challenged me to become a better human, a better boss, and a better leader for The DSC. I look to them for guidance, and their perspective is always clear-eyed.
These young people grow up to become thoughtful adults. As they have matured, they have helped me to recognize my own implicit biases and to learn from them. They have helped me see the world that they, as people who have different lived experiences than mine, must navigate. "Who is the outreach serving?" "Why is the program shaped like it is?" "Is the actual purpose of the program the stated purpose, and is the stated purpose even any good?" Questions like these are followed with "Can we try this, instead?" Our S.I.T. graduates consistently work with me to find a better path forward.
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Taz and Stu celebrating the finish of a century bike ride, summer 2017 |
Here's the rub. Some of your fundraising dollars go to direct service and will pay for community programming that has already been spent. Our S.I.T. program cost us roughly $5,000 in out-of-pocket expenses this summer; we gave away $3,500 in camp scholarships; and our Siebel Sailors Program, which maintains a substantial diversity requirement, has cost us nearly $5,000 in coaching and startup costs. A new awning on 'B' dock, essential for the S.I.T. program, cost us $2,500 in supplies alone. And many of the general operational costs we have absorbed - the $5,000 for plumbing the docks, the costs for hand sanitizer and soap and bleach, and the labor associated with the constant cleaning and disinfection - will be offset with your generous financial contributions through the Ya Gotta Regatta. We are still a long way from reaching our annual fundraising target, and I do ask for you to consider donating as you are able.
But the honest truth of our Ya Gotta Regatta fundraising campaign is that much of the money raised - we seek to raise over $100,000 this season - will go to pay down our marina redevelopment loan, keep our staff employed throughout the pandemic, and to provision our nonprofit for a very uncertain 2021.
If you would like to donate to The DSC but want your funds to go directly to the S.I.T. program, please feel free to donate through the Hanna Crafton Memorial Scholarship Fund. Proceeds from this fund support S.I.T. scholarships for deserving youth and are also used to support equipment purchases like high-quality life jackets for our S.I.T. staff. Every dollar counts. If you would like to keep our ship on course for the future, please consider donating through the Ya Gotta Regatta.
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S.I.T.s from the class of 2019 flaunt their new lifejackets. Amani (top left) and Mykayla (third from right, middle row) joined the rank and file instructor crew this summer; Jerard (top row, middle) and Jazmin (second from right, middle row) played a supporting role, and Dy (blue shirt) led the 2020 program as head instructor |
In order to become the world class sailing center we strive to be, we must continue to activate diversity of thought, diversity of experience, and diversity of physical backgrounds. We seek to achieve this diversity through programs like the S.I.T. program, by offering quality sailing education at a reasonable price, and by creating spaces for individuals to learn through a supportive, natural environment. We also recognize that "outreach" is not one sided, and we know that correct action does not always align with correct intention. The S.I.T. program has taught me that there is much I do not know, and we are constantly learning, rectifying, and growing.
We want everyone who sails with us to have a warm and connective experience. Sailing was transformative for me as a kid, and my positive experiences fostered friendships, opened professional doors, and strengthened my leadership skills. Our S.I.T. program offers a similar opportunity to teens who would otherwise not have the opportunity; In turn, S.I.T. graduates become role models for other sailors, some who look like them, and some who do not.
Our pursuit is worthwhile, and our community is like no other. Thanks in part to the wisdom of our S.I.T. graduates, our compass is pointing us in the correct direction. Thank you for supporting community sailing in your special way, and thank you for your support of The S.I.T. program.
Sincerely,
-Stuart Proctor, Executive Director
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Amani, 2020, leads a crew of masked campers in our Juniors Summer Camp |
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The Downtown Sailing Center
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