Cross Currents

RECREATION: All in the same boat Cross Currents was featured in the July 23rd, 2008 issue of Rochester's City Newspaper!  The article tells the story of how the Minority Rowing Program at GWC came to be and features the current members of Cross Currents team, and their experiences and perspectives on the sport of rowing.

Congratulations to the Cross Currents Team, who won silver in their race at the Pittsford Regatta on May 31, 2008.  The team was coxed by Oscar Pedroso; rowers included Patricia Leadley, Alicia Hernandez, Lydia Boddie-Rice, Joan Chisholm, Eke Aiono, Phoebe Reynolds, Mike Williams, and Lisa Norwood. Cross Currents rowers Cheryl Akine and Phoebe Reynolds also competed at the Regatta for a mixed team.

The Cross Currents rowing team, formed in 2006, is a group of dedicated individuals who demonstrate that rowing is a sport accessible to people from all ethnic groups.  This rowing team is unique to the Upstate & Western New York areas, and it represents people of Hispanic, African-American, and Samoan descent. 

“Being a member of Team Cross Currents tests every paradigm of leadership, diversity, and athletics.  Rowing is the ultimate team sport.  It provides a metaphor for how to lead, be a team member, handle differences, and ultimately how to work together to achieve a common goal.”
Lydia Boddie-Rice, Cross Currents Charter Member and Manager of Public Affairs at RG&E

In 2007, the Cross Currents team proudly began rowing in their new 8-person Vespoli shell, which was made possible through a generous $15,000 donation by RG&E in addition to a contribution from the GWC.  RG&E has been the largest financial contributor to the Minority Rowing Program at GWC and we appreciate their support as we strive to achieve our goal of encouraging youth and adults from our community to develop an awareness of and embrace water sports!

Cross Currents has competed in several local regattas over the past few years, and as the team grows and matures, other opportunities also arise in which the team can show its commitment to rowing and the message that this sport is accessible to minorities.  One of the new members of Cross Currents has volunteered to coxswain for a fundraising effort in Philadelphia led by Dwayne Adams, an African-American rower who is rowing 26 miles on July 19th, 2008 to raise money for Breaking Barriers, a Philadelphia-based minority rowing program.  This is just one example of the efforts being made across the country to bring attention to minority involvement in the sport of rowing.

Most of the current members of Team Cross Currents are adults, however we are actively trying to recruit both youth and adult minority rowers to grow this wonderful program.  If you are interested in becoming a part of GWC’s Minority Rowing Program, please contact us today! 

Special thanks to Lydia Boddie-Rice and Nelson Torres, who have supported Cross Currents with their enthusiasm and their tireless fundraising and recruiting efforts!