BRAID Project Founded to Create Community for Black Rowers

Near the end of 2024, Joy Neal, a junior on the Clemson women’s rowing team, and Amari Randall, a junior on the University of Delaware women’s rowing team, started the BRAID Project, a network to unite Black rowers and create a space to talk about many of the inequities that exist in the sport.

“Me and the other co-founder Amari, who rows at Delaware now, started the organization in the fall,” said Neal. “We noticed a lot of black rowers at a lot of different schools were having the same experiences and seeing a lack of connection because there are so few of us. It started with us just making a group chat to have a sense of community. Now it’s grown into something so awesome. We have two other girls who are doing it with us and so it’s grown into this thing. At the root is making a community where athletes feel seen, celebrated, and supported.”

BRAID’s mission is to create a safe, supportive, and empowering space for Black rowers to connect, grow, and thrive.

Baylor Henry, a captain on the Drexel women’s rowing team, and Olyma Desarmes, who formerly rowed for Syracuse University, join Neal and Randall as executive board members. BRAID unites Black student-athletes with the six goals of building community, amplifying representation, fostering mentorship and advocacy, expanding participation, growing the organization through events, and broadening reach.

The organization has a mailing list and GroupMe through which members can stay connected. The next general body meeting takes place on February 23, at 6 p.m.

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