A new organization has been formed that is designed to foster professional-growth opportunities for ethnic minorities in professional, intercollegiate and high-school athletics.

The organization, called the Minority Opportunities Athletics Association (MOAA), is designed to provide minorities a forum for professional development, opportunities to exchange ideas, advocate increased participation and administrative opportunities and promote diversity within athletics.

"We're seeking to generate a sports culture that supports the values necessary to teach and to learn respect for self and respect for others," said MOAA Executive Director Stan Johnson, formerly NCAA director of professional development. "We're structured to provide minority athletics participants and administrators the opportunity to network and assist each other in their professional development."

Johnson said the MOAA will address significant issues pertaining to minorities who encounter obstacles at every level of participation in athletics. He said the MOAA and those organizations that support its efforts will petition various athletics governing bodies to draft, enact and enforce clear and progressive guidelines and policies to improve professional mobility for minorities within athletics.

Johnson said the organization is in the process of naming a board of directors. That group already includes Clint Bryant, director of athletics at Augusta State University and chair of the Division II Management Council; Daniel G. Guerrero, athletics director at the University of California, Irvine; Alfreeda Goff, associate commissioner of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference; Leon Kerry, commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association; Kevin Warren, vice-president of the National Football League's St. Louis Rams; and Muzzy Jackson, assistant general manager of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals. Johnson said others will be appointed from professional, college and high-school athletics organizations.

Johnson said the MOAA will build coalitions with various athletics associations such as the NCAA, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the U. S. Olympic Committee and all major professional sports leagues. "We also want to foster relationships with other national associations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 100 Black Men of America, and Boys and Girls Clubs that promote a positive growth experience and diversity through integrated educational programs," Johnson said.

The MOAA will operate primarily from a national headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, but regional sites also will factor into the framework of the organization. "We want to have a number of regional coordinators around the country who can harness individuals in those areas and assess their needs on a more local basis," Johnson said.

The MOAA will hold an annual convention, develop a resource center that identifies programs and supports diversity, conduct research as a way to find solutions to athletics problems, and provide postgraduate scholarships annually for ethnic minority college graduates who have been accepted into a college sports administration program. Other initiatives include providing internships, community-service programs and an electronic employment bank for ethnic minorities seeking careers in athletics.

Johnson also said the MOAA would create and maintain a minority vendors program to assist individuals who provide, manufacture or distribute athletics-related products, services and goods.

Johnson said that though some of the organization's initiatives are similar to those of other minority-based groups, the MOAA will provide a unique service.

"The key for the MOAA is that we are more broad-based -- we want to cater to athletes, administrators and the many peripheral individuals in sports -- and we will include programs for all ethnic minorities rather than concentrating on one particular constituent or professional area," Johnson said.

"We're looking to work with groups like the Black Coaches Association and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and other national and professional organizations to get things done.

Those interested in obtaining membership and other information about the MOAA should contact Johnson at sjohnson@sound.net or at the MOAA at 620 East Gregory Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64131.