For the November edition of the #GWG50 Staff Spotlights, enjoy this first-person letter from Kituwah “Kit” Golden, Little League® West Region Director, as she walks you through her own #GWG50 Journey:
First Days on the Diamond
After years of leaping across the dance floor as a young girl, I caught the softball bug while hanging out at the fields, watching my brother play Little League. I decided to give it a try and I never regretted a moment spent on the diamond, where I learned something from each and every game, practice, and team event.
I learned so many life lessons from playing Little League Softball® – what it means to be part of a team, how to stand up for myself and compete for the position I wanted, and how to both win and lose with grace. I saw how hard work paid off, that sportsmanship and respect go a long way, and that everyone contributes to making the team better, whether it’s on the field or in the dugout. I developed leadership and relationship skills that have been instrumental in my growth as a sister, friend, co-worker, parent, and someone that the next generation can turn to for mentorship.
Having a mentor or role model in the sports world was not something that I had growing up as female athletes were not as prominent on television or in the public eye, unless it was during the Olympics. However, my mother, aunts, and teachers served as role models – teaching me how working women can support each other. My coaches and teachers were always supportive and made me believe that I could accomplish my goals if I worked hard and believed in myself. They all helped mold me into the person I would become.
The Impact of My Heritage
My father was another major influence in my early years. He grew up on a reservation, an experience that was an integral part of shaping who he was. From a young age, he instilled in me a tremendous pride in our culture and an understanding of our place as Native Americans, both in history and in the future. My personal experiences growing up Native American made me aware of how individuals are often excluded from activities and groups because of what makes them different. Those experiences are one of the reasons that I am so proud that one of Little League’s core values is inclusion. Everyone should feel welcome to find a safe place to step onto the diamond and play the game they love.
Today, the values of the Native American culture continue be a major part of who I am. As part of our culture, I was taught to value and respect other’s opinions and contributions to the whole. Knowing that we all have a place in this world, we not only have a responsibility to identify our own path, but to assist others along the way to find their own. Luckily, I am able to live those values every day working with Little League.
Volunteering and Working at Little League
The more than two decades that I spent as a Little League volunteer gave me an understanding of the program at a grassroots level. I know the anxiety and excitement that a parent feels when they drop their player off at their first practice, the weight of the decisions made by the local league board to do what they feel is best for all of the players in their program, as well as the difficulties that the administrators can face when dealing with various groups, city officials, and community members who all want to have their opinions heard. There are so many aspects to running a successful program within a community and it differs greatly from town to town and state to state, especially with a diverse region like the West Region; but, I am thankful to be able to reach into my past experiences to suggest solutions for our local leagues to deal with obstacles that arise.
In 2022, I was brought on to the full-time staff at Little League International as the West Region Director. In this role, every day brings different challenges and opportunities, which is part of what I love about my job. One day could be spent speaking with a group about the attributes of affiliating with Little League and another could involve hosting a Challenger Division event at our region facility. Overall, I work with the region staff and volunteers to reach common goals. Our paths might be different to that goal, but understanding the different perspectives allows us to best serve our community.
Advice for the Next Generation
If you can dream it, you can do it!
There are so many more opportunities for young girls and women today in sports – it is no longer just a boys’ club. Women have proven time and time again that not only can they compete in the sports world, but they can succeed. Every woman that has taken on the challenge has helped to lead the way. Just because you don’t see an open door in front of you, doesn’t mean that there isn’t another means of getting to the other side.
Be fierce!
I am in awe of the talent, drive, and confidence exhibited by female athletes today and I absolutely love it! They understand the dedication and work that it takes to succeed, but they also are aware of the rewards and opportunities that have been provided by the women that came before – they respect it, but they are also not satisfied with it. They can envision the world they want to be part of and are working to create it.
If you can see her, you can be her!
These words mean so much to me personally because I grew up with so few examples of female role models in the highest echelon of sports. Women were still fighting for a place professionally at every level of sports. We saw Olympic and collegiate athletes compete, but there were not the professional sports organizations that there are today. Young female athletes today can watch women’s professional sports on national television, with huge crowds in attendance, and know that there is a place for them. They don’t have to give up their dreams when they graduate from college like their parents did. They see women reporters, coaches, executives, and franchise owners and know the sky is the limit.
Cheers to the Future
The growth of female sports during my lifetime has been incredible and knowing that it is merely the foundation to be built upon is incredibly exciting! Girls know and believe that they can accomplish anything – no idea is too outrageous, no dream is too big, no goal is unattainable.
Women have a continuously growing group of supporters that want to propel them toward those goals both here at Little League and worldwide. We are here to support those dreams and figure out a way to assist them to make them happen.
When we support each other, we are unstoppable!
This is the ninth in a series of Little League International Staff Spotlights that will focus on the Women In Little League (WILL) as part of the overall Girls with Game 50 Celebration (LittleLeague.org/GWG50). The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.