She believes that participation in sports is important not only for children’s physical health, but for their emotional health too. She always told her athletes that when they came to practice, they should dump their problems and have some fun. “Sport is a way to escape,” she says. “Nowa- days, so much is going on in our communities, so many kids need an escape.” Mrs. Sloan Green’s impact has gone beyond coaching. For instance, she helped set up the Black Women in Sport Foundation in the early 1990s. The foundation focuses on encouraging girls and women of color “to develop healthy self-images and strong self-esteem.” The foundation has run programs encouraging children—starting as young as preschool—to be active. It also promotes and teaches nontraditional sports such as tennis, golf, lacrosse, hockey, and fencing. “We try to increase opportunities for girls of color from the playing field to the board room,” Mrs. Sloan Green says. Along the way, Mrs. Sloan Green has been awarded many honors, including one from the Philadelphia 76ers, and has been inducted into several sports halls of fame. She is a fierce competitor. “I like to win,” she says matter-of-factly. But sports offer so much more than trophies and applause, Mrs. Sloan Green says. They can break down barriers among people. They also teach important lessons. When you don’t win, you gain strength that can help you in life, she says. “Life isn’t easy,” she says. Sports “give you resilience to survive.” —By Fit Fin staff James Dobson Elementary School 27 Illustration by Jayla Clark, James Dobson Fit Fin