Exposure Skate: Creating an Inclusive Environment Through Skateboarding

June 28, 2024

In honor of Pride Month, today we’re highlighting Exposure Skate – the latest Collaborator of our Head In The Game program powered by the Z Zurich Foundation. The California-based non-profit is dedicated to empowering women, girls, trans and nonbinary individuals through skateboarding and teaching compassion through service.

Exposure Skate was established in 2012 and inspired by co-founder and Olympian Amelia Brodka's documentary, Underexposed, which highlighted the lack of opportunity for women skateboarders. At the time, women’s divisions had been cut from all major skate events and the best female skateboarders in the world lacked support. Brodka emphasized a crucial need to create space for professional and amateur female, trans and nonbinary skateboarders, as well as those looking to get into the sport. 

Exposure began as an annual global skateboarding competition inclusive to women and the LGBTQ+ community. Each year, the global event supports survivors of domestic violence by spreading awareness and raising funds for the issue that disproportionately affects the girls, women and LGBTQ+ identifying communities. 

In 2013, Brodka and social entrepreneur, sports enthusiast and fellow co-founder, Lesli Cohen, decided to create a non-profit in California that featured year-round programming dedicated to empowerment through skateboarding. 

Exposure serves as a pioneer for gender inclusivity in skateboarding, which has historically been a cis-male-dominated space. At the time the non-profit was established, skateparks were seen as hostile environments to women, girls and the LGBTQ+ community. Exposure provides safe spaces for these groups, opportunities for them to grow personally and in the sport, and mental health tools and services.

One in eight San Diego, California youth experience poor mental health including hospitalization, suicidal ideation and major depressive episodes. Local Health Services data shows that depression rates are increasing the most among women, girls and LGBTQ+ youth. Therefore, it is important for Exposure to weave proven social emotional learning practices into its curriculum and programming to ensure that participants can manage their mental wellbeing. 

“As a member of that community (LGBTQ+) myself, when I was a teenager I didn’t often feel seen or deserved to take a space, especially in skateboarding. So, what I like to bring to this organization, particularly, is my own experience so that I can talk to teens about their own mental strife that they may be going through so that we can address that and that they feel safe and seen in that space,” said Kendra Sebelius, Skate Rising (Exposure Skate program) volunteer. 

Exposure’s programs include elements of giving back to at-risk communities, social and emotional development, inclusion, leadership, service and college scholarship opportunities. It also offers a range of classes, camps, retreats, college scholarships and events for all ages, which incorporate social and emotional learning through skateboarding, mindfulness and community service. The unique programming creates an outlet for women, girls, trans and nonbinary individuals to build confidence, community, education and mental and physical wellbeing. 

In 2016, the organization launched Skate Rising, a youth program created to teach girls aged 4-16 a combination of free skateboarding, mindfulness and community service. Participants can learn about communities in need or a way to practice self-case, participate in a project either dedicated to alleviating community needs or a mindfulness activity. They can also enjoy a Learn-To-Skate Clinic taught by local and visiting Olympians and pro skateboarders. Nearly 100 girls attend each event, each serving 1-3 people in need. 

Exposure's Sesh(E) program addresses the need to make skateparks inclusive by offering free skateboarding guidance to women, trans and nonbinary skaters aged 16+ in exchange for goods donated to the local domestic violence shelter. It provides personalized instruction with professional skate coaches, skate gear and safety equipment at every youth and adult clinic. Additionally, in 2020, it introduced two annual $5,000 College Scholarships for skaters who actively contribute to the wellbeing of their communities. 

"The mental health benefits of skateboarding and community are the inspiration and fuel behind Exposure Skate's programs,” said Brodka. “We were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to become Head in the Game Grantees in order to better equip our staff and coaches with the tools they need to further serve the mental health needs of our participants. We are thrilled to be able to provide our community with an informed lens on how to strengthen social-emotional skills and grow stronger together." 

Together, Exposure Skate and Head In The Game are raising awareness of mental wellbeing and ensuring that no one faces the challenges of mental health alone. Visit our Head In The Game Campaign Resource Hub to access diverse mental wellbeing resources for teens, and check out our Coaches' training series supporting youth mental wellbeing, including LGBTQ+ youth.

Register here for our July 9 CHJS virtual training on Healing-Centered Sport.