Contact information:
Phone: (617) 373-8952
-or-
Email:
SPORT IN SOCIETY'S STEPHEN BURKE ...
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON ON THE JUNTA HOCKEY DAD MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL
BOSTON, MA – As the Junta hockey dad man-slaughter trial winds to a close, Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society is once again at the forefront of issues relating to the effects of sport on society.
More often than not, sports can play a positive role in society through its quality of teamwork and power of bringing people together from various racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. One cannot deny the disturbing trend of increased violence in our athletic arenas today. However, Sport in Society believes that violence in sports is a reflection of the violence in our society.
"This tragic incident serves as a huge wake up call for everyone involved in youth sports – coaches, officials, and parents in particular – that verbal and physical abuse by adults is unacceptable behavior and needs to be addressed in a proactive manner," said Stephen Burke, Sport in Society's official spokesperson on the Junta case.
Speaking on the Junta case, Stephen Burke has been featured on CNN and Fox News (national), among other local and national media outlets.
Burke's Urban Youth Sports Health Connection is an innovative program designed to improve the lives of Boston's urban youth by linking improved sports and recreational opportunities with better access to health care.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The Urban Youth Sports Health Connection is an initiative of the Urban Youth Sports program)
A graduate of Holy Cross College (where he played ice hockey) and New England School of Law, Burke parlayed his athletic, management and legal skills into a career in sports event management, marketing and grassroots athletic development.
He helped attract and manage a series of high profile events in Boston, including the NHL All-Star Game, the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, and NCAA basketball and hockey championships.
He is a founder, director and coach of S.C.O.R.E. Boston, an NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force youth hockey program that teaches the values of sportsmanship, character, respect, and life skills to hundreds of inner-city boys and girls. He also is a director and coach in the Dedham Youth Hockey Association.
Burke is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports, where he formed and chairs the Disabled Fitness Subcommittee.
He is a board member of numerous youth sports programs, and consults on marketing and legal matters with statewide and national sports organizations such as the Bay State Games, Massachusetts Hockey and USA Hockey.
A native of Dartmouth, MA, Burke and his wife Sandra now live in Dedham, MA with their children Ashley, Amanda and Jon.
Sport in Society is dedicated to the idea that the sports community can, and should, take a lead role in bringing about positive social change. Sport in Society oversees a variety of educational and outreach programs that operate throughout the year. Each program aims to teach young people about various social issues and to inspire them to play positive roles in society through the use of sports.
The mission of Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society is to increase awareness of sport and its relation to society, and to develop programs that identify problems, offer solutions, and promote the benefits of sport.
For further information, contact:
Kevin J. Mathews, Sport in Society Director of External Affairs, at 617-373-3159.
Stephen Burke, Director, Urban Youth Sports Health Connection, at 617-373-8952.
Northeastern
University's
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SPORT IN SOCIETY
360 Huntington Avenue, Suite 161 CP
Boston, MA 02115-5000
Phone: (617) 373-4025
Fax:
(617) 373-4566