The week of November 4th, more than 1,000 student-athletes across the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) made history together by marching to the polls, raising their voices, and taking a moment to “PAUSE” for purpose.
The first-ever CIAA SAAC Unity Walk, led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), brought together all 12 CIAA institutions in a shared effort to amplify civic engagement and community awareness. The walk coincided with “All Vote No Play Day,” a national initiative encouraging student-athletes to exercise their right to vote and influence positive change beyond the field or court.
All Vote No Play is an initiative of The Team, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization working to integrate civic and voter engagement into college athletics. In June 2020, Coach Eric Reveno, then Associate Head Coach for Georgia Tech Men's Basketball, tweeted that Election Day should be a day OFF from playing, and a day ON for voting, #allvotenoplay. The tweet quickly went viral and inspired over 1,100 coaches to sign a pledge to do the same.
The Team worked with the NCAA and student-athlete leaders across the country to unanimously pass legislation that makes Election Day an annual dedicated day for civic engagement, titled All Vote No Play Day. In that moment, a new civic movement was born.
Now, five years later, athletic departments across the country come together around All Vote No Play to vote, celebrate civics, and host events. Since 2020, over 700 events have been held, over 60,000 athletes, coaches, and administrators have been directly engaged with All Vote No Play, and 300,000 individuals have been reached on social media.
One of the biggest coordinated All Vote No Play Day events since 2020 occurred this year - titled the CIAA Unity Walk.
This walk was about more than voting; it was about reflection, advocacy, and unity. Each campus hosted its own Unity Walk, where student-athletes chose causes that mattered most to them. Eleven institutions paused to mark Mental Health Awareness, acknowledging the importance of emotional well-being in both athletics and daily life. One institution paused to address the ongoing impact of gun violence, calling for peace and community healing.
The CIAA Conference Office also joined in, walking in solidarity and pausing to reflect on various issues that deeply impact communities across the conference footprint.
Driven entirely by student-athletes, the Unity Walk became more than an event; it was a movement. It showed that the CIAA’s next generation of leaders understands the power of sport as a platform to make a positive impact. Student athletes who participated in the walk shared that the walk “gave a strong sense of community” and “brought different cultures together to unite as one.”
In a single day, across 12 campuses, thousands of young student-athletes proved that when they unite and pause together, they move forward together, for their communities, for each other, and for change.
Across the country, 2025 All Vote No Play Day was a success. More than 50 events were held by student athletes and athletic departments, reaching over 3,500 student athletes in person and over 115,000 people on social media.
The Team’s Engaged Athlete Fellows were big leaders this year for All Vote No Play. All 38 Fellows held events on their campuses. Lexa Hunter from Norfolk State University put on a voter engagement event during Norfolk State’s homecoming football game. The high-traffic gathering, dubbed “The Fan Zone,” featured a game called Spartans Vote, where participants completed civic tasks for spirit merch. Ayden Baker, who plays Football at Columbia University, hosted a pizza party to get Columbia athletes voter-ready ahead of the November 4th elections. Ayden educated folks on ballot measures, candidates, and checking voter registration.
All Vote No Play is more than just a day, and it’s about more than just voting. It’s about showing up for your community and coming together for a shared purpose.
Kaiya Wright is a track and field athlete at Fayetteville State University, majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare management and a minor in health.
Elicia Bryant is a standout student athlete at Winston-Salem State University, competing in both track and cross country while pursuing a degree in computer science.
Camdyn Peck is a softball student-athlete at Elizabeth City State University, where she is pursuing a degree in biology.
Darius Satterfield is a dual sport athlete at Elizabeth City State University, competing in both football and men's golf.
Hannah Nusbaum is a Founding Member and the Director of Operations at The Team.
The Bridge Alliance, the sponsor of the Fulcrum, is a partner of The Team.
