The Boston Celtics hosted a new Playbook Initiative workshop in conjunction with the Shamrock Foundation on Friday (Nov. 14), per a release circulated by the team. For the uninitiated, the Playbook Initiative was created by the Celtics’ Shamrock Foundation and Project 351 to spark discussions that engage current, critical social topic in constructive ways while helping to foster the skills, knowledge of, and state of mind capable of shifting perspectives and outcomes.
Youth in particular are key to the program, whose goal is “to build more inclusive communities by eliminating hate speech and other acts of discrimination and bias,” according to the release. In the event, Celtics center Xavier Tillman Sr., Boston broadcaster and ’08 Cs champion Brian Scalabrine, New Balance Associate Manager of Global Partnership Marketing Grace Choi sat down with more than 80 local high school students and teachers.
“The event was developed to prepare the next cohort of students and trainers for conversations around race, gender, religion, disability, and orientation in a safe-space environment, with each participant drawing on personal experience to work through plausible future scenarios,” notes the release.
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 11: PLAYER of the Boston Bruins ACTION against the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden on November 11, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** PLAYER
“This experience was pretty cool because it was high schoolers, so in this event specifically, it was more focused on being vulnerable and being put in situations to where they have to answer questions based on prejudices and how we can all navigate them,” said Tillman of the event.
Joe VanBuskirk, New Balance Head of Partnerships, said “At New Balance, we believe that empowering young people to lead is essential to building a more just and inclusive future. We’re proud to continue our support of the Playbook Initiative to equip young people to challenge bias, foster understanding, and become champions of change in their communities.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics, Shamrock Foundation, New Balance host new Playbook Initiative