For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
NSIC Media Relations
I'm Changing the Narrative
 
NSIC Commissioner Erin Lind announced a partnership with Rachel Baribeau for the 2020-21 academic year. Baribeau’s I’m Changing the Narrative movement of living a life with purpose, passion and platform will provide a series of programming to support and foster student-athlete well-being.
 
“We are beyond excited to partner with Rachel and her I’m Changing the Narrative movement”, said Lind. “Her impactful programming helps student-athletes make meaningful choices in their personal lives, destigmatize mental and emotional health issues and learn how to advocate for themselves and the people around them.”
 
Baribeau’s programming will be available to all NSIC student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. In addition to mental and emotional health, programming will cover matters related to true purpose in life, interpersonal relationships, social justice, and more.
 
"Since starting the program in 2016 we have had one central goal: saving and profoundly changing lives by giving permission for those in need to take action within themselves first, and when necessary by seeking outside help and support,” commented Baribeau. “I am humbled and honored to be working with Commissioner Lind, the Northern Sun Conference and its member schools. Student-athletes, coaches & support staff are uniquely positioned to be such incredible forces for positive change in society, yet many of them struggle with their own "funky junk" of mental and emotional illness, prejudice, lack of true purpose, poverty, poor interpersonal relationships, and more. At ICTN, we help show a safe path to embrace and transcend those issues, empowering each person to make a change, not only in themselves, but in their teams, schools and communities."
 
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 23 team national championships and crowned 77 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.
 
About Rachel Baribeau:
Ms. Baribeau is a graduate of the Auburn University Radio/Television/Film program and as a master of her craft, she delivered insightful commentary to millions of sports enthusiasts via national broadcasters such as Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo, and SiriusXM for 17 years. As the first known female sports reporter to participate in a professional football training camp and was the first female host on SiriusXM ESPNU, her pursuit of delivering an authentic account to her fans was relentless. Rachel is also an avid speaker at many a college, quarterback club, and church. In 2016 she blazed another trail when she founded the movement, #ImChangingtheNarrative. Since August of 2016, she has visited 40 plus campuses talking to young athletes, coaches and staff about being Kings and Queens through purpose, passion and platform; and an increased and real look at mental health and how we deal with these issues. Also, on a deeper level, how we look at/respect women in society as a whole and within their universities. The movement has caught fire with millions of social-media hits and countless lives changed. For more information, visit www.rachelbaribeau.com and follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/Rachelbaribeau), Twitter (@RachelBaribeau), Instagram (@RachelBaribeau) and You Tube (YouTube.com/RachelBaribeau).   
 
About ICTN:
Rachel developed #ImChangingtheNarrative with student athletes in mind and a belief that one crooked course made straight is everything. One misstep not taken means one less victim in the world. And one less life thrown away because of a split- second bad decision.  She speaks to athletes, corporations, law-enforcement offices and more about taking back the headlines for good – showing them that they have the power to change the narrative and to find their purpose in life outside of their sport or career. To live lives of… Purpose, Passion and Platform.  When she’s finished, they wait in line to speak to her. They tweet, private message and text her.  They trust her and report back on their efforts to become the kings and queens she consistently challenges them to be. While the message originated as purpose, passion, platform, over the four years and 40 campuses it now encompasses, heavily, mental health, being a KING/QUEEN/ROYAL everyday of your life and interpersonal relationships. For more information, visit www.imchangingthenarrative.org and follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/ImChangingtheNarrative), Twitter (@CTNKingandQueen), Instagram (@ImChangingtheNarrative). 
 
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes have the opportunity to earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.