Meet the team
John Gigliotti
Co-Founder & Chief Strategic Officer
Charlotte Parish
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Odina Ellis
Chief Marketing Officer
Our History
DIG was founded by Charlotte Parish and John Gigliotti in 2020. John and Charlotte had both been active in the volleyball community from different perspectives - Charlotte as a coach and player, John as a volleyball parent.
What united them and created DIG was the knowledge that volleyball lacks diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all people. This lack of diversity starts in part due to significant financial barriers to playing at the club level, which has further ramifications because club volleyball has become the primary way in which high school athletes become noticed and recruited to play in college.
Those realizations created a dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion and ultimately a vision for a way to effect change.
So began the journey and DIG was born.
How DIG empowers our players:
DIG empowers athletes from underserved communities with financial assistance, mental health support, life skills training, mentorship, and a commitment to nurturing self-confidence and self-love, allowing them to thrive both on and off the court. DIG strives to address inequities that face their communities due to systemic racism and generations of oppression. Specifically, DIG leverages our shared love of the sport of volleyball and support of the volleyball community in order to:
Bring together players from historically disenfranchised communities in an affinity space as DIG players
Support DIG players throughout their high school experience
Increase DIG players’ capacities around mental health, wellness, and life skills
Connect DIG players’ growth and abilities for self-care sense to their confidence and belonging throughout their lives
Financial Assistance
The first barrier of entry is financial. DIG Athletes receive up to $2,000 per season to cover club dues.
Mental Health and Self Care
Springfield College's Sports Psychology department leads grad students to offer free group workshops and individual counseling for DIG Athletes. Topics encompass growth mindset, self-talk, time management, and more.
Academic Support
COMORP ensures DIG Athletes triumph in sports and academics. AC4SA program aids college readiness with transcript review, eligibility tracking, and academic prep, fostering success both on-court and in-classroom.
College Recruiting
DIG Athletes will receive complimentary access to an NCSA's MVP Membership so they have optimal support and guidance throughout their recruiting journey.
Life Skills & Building Resilience
For 25+ years, Miraval fosters balanced lives via body, mind, soul care. Miraval for Youthful Minds, led by Tariq Pinkston, empowers young minds with resilience tools for navigating daily challenges effectively.
Mentorship
Rachael Adams. Professional Volleyball player, Olympic Medalist and Founder of Journey Strength
A message from the team…
Our Mentors
Rachael Adams is a Professional Volleyball Player, Olympic Medalist, and Founder of Journey Strength.
As a mentor, Rachael Adams brings a unique blend of athletic prowess, life lessons, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Her guidance extends beyond the volleyball court, encompassing values such as leadership, discipline, and the pursuit of one's goals.
Tariq Pinkston is a Wholistic Fitness Trainer, Motivational Speaker, and The Body Activist Coach
Through a wholistic perspective, Tariq gives DIG players the tools to build resilience, find their inner voice, understand their emotions, express their authentic selves, and so much more. While fitness is a small part of our lives, Tariq teaches how our thoughts can impact the way our bodies perform.
Reggie Hubbard is a Certified Yoga Teacher, Activist, and Political Strategist
Reggie Hubbard, the founder of Active Peace Yoga, activist, and mental health advocate, joins DIG as a mentor this season. Reggie's guidance undoubtedly inspires our athletes to prioritize self-care and embrace their authentic selves.
Our Partners
For 25+ years, Miraval nurtures balance: body, mind, and soul. With experts, it guides journeys through care. Miraval For Youthful Minds, led by Tariq Pinkston, empowers young minds with resilience tools. The course equips DIG athletes to conquer daily life challenges effectively.
NCSA operates the All In Award, a give-back program helping student athletes achieve their goals of playing college athletics. All In Award recipients receive complimentary access to NCSA’s MVP Membership so they have optimal support and guidance through their recruiting jouney. While athletes typically fill out an application to meet program qualificatios, DIG athletes benefit from automatic acceptance.
Springfield College's Sports Psychology program unites grad students, led by the department head, to aid DIG athletes. Workshops cover growth mindset, self-talk, time management. We also offer cost-free individual counseling.
