Empowering today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders in sports journalism and sports management.
ABOUT WORK, PLAN, PRAY FOUNDATION
Scholarships for Sports Journalism and Sports Management
We all know there’s a lack of diversity in sports media and the front office of athletic teams, particularly in decision-making positions. But rather than focus on the problem, I’m committed to finding solutions. To that end, I’ve created the WORK , PLAN, PRAY Foundation, a nonprofit designed to aid students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with scholarships and resources as they pursue degrees in sports journalism and sports management.
OUR MISSION
As someone who has been a professional journalist for nearly four decades, it pains me that more African Americans are not at the table when determining what is a story, who will cover a story, and how a story will be framed - particularly when it involves African American athletes, coaches and executives. Too often, these individuals’ life experiences and cultural experiences are not represented during coverage discussions, which ultimately contributes to a mistrust of the media.
My goal is to bridge that gap by awarding scholarships and resources to deserving HBCU students and by contributing to programs and centers seeking to develop HBCU students into tomorrow’s leaders. As the son of a single mom who raised four kids on a social worker’s salary, money was hard to come by. Thankfully, I received a tuition scholarship for my final two years at Howard University, which allowed me to focus on becoming the best version of my future professional self. My hope is that the WORK, PLAN, PRAY FOUNDATION will do the same for the next generation of sports journalists and professionals.
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND WORK, PlAN, PRAY FOUNDATION
One of the people who was instrumental in my success as a journalist was the late Junior Seau, a Hall of Fame linebacker who took me under his wing and taught me about the culture of a locker room and the mindset of an elite professional athlete during my time as a beat writer for the San Diego Chargers football team. Seau was a giving soul who often ended speaking engagements by reminding the audience to work for today, plan for tomorrow, and pray for the rest. I could think of no greater way to thank him and carry on his legacy of giving than by amplifying his words in the name of this foundation.
WORK, PLAN, PRAY is a way for me to pay it forward while hopefully one day bringing greater diversity to newsrooms and front offices.
For more information or to join us on this journey, reach out to us here.
Jim TROTTER
Jim Trotter is a Hall of Fame journalist who has covered the National Football League (NFL) for three decades. The Howard University graduate is known for his commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as speaking truth to power. In 2023, he was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists and was the recipient of the prestigious Bill Nunn Jr. Memorial Award, which is awarded annually by the Pro Football Writers of America to individuals with a long and distinguished career covering pro football. He also has received the Smith-Lacy Award from the University of Maryland and been voted Member of the Year twice by the San Diego Association of Black Journalists. He is an unwavering advocate for racial equity and historically Black colleges and universities, often using his platform to highlight disparities. The author of “Junior Seau: The Life and Death of a Football Icon,” Trotter resides in San Diego.