Interview: Chanel Keenan, Seattle Kraken Intersectionality Consultant
In this episode, Shireen is joined by Chanel Keenan, Intersectionality Consultant for the Seattle Kraken and host of the C More Than Sports podcast. They discuss Chanel's "rink rat" upbringing, her dream to attend the NHL draft, and making hockey a more diverse and inclusive sport.
This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network.
Transcript
Shireen: Hello flamethrowers, I’m so excited to have our next guest on! Chanel Keenan is a student at UMass Amherst, studying communications with a minor in education. This dynamic young woman is from Dorchester, Massachusetts, and a community activist who has been working in sports, including a pivotal role with her high school women’s varsity basketball team. Chanel has osteogenesis imperfecta and is a vocal advocate of the disabled community and of access to sport. She speaks about her own experiences loving hockey, trying to make it better for everyone. Chanel is the intersectional consultant for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and she is a taco aficionado and lives off of coffee. Welcome to Burn It All Down, Chanel.
Chanel: Thank you so much for having me. I’m so excited to be here. I was listening to you guys’s latest episode yesterday and I was like, this is the best way to start 2020 is with you.
Shireen: Well, I’m so excited you’re here.
Chanel: 2021! Oh my gosh.
Shireen: It’s okay. [laughter] That’s okay. We’re still unraveling, we’re still unrolling. So, I want you to tell me a little bit about your love for hockey, because this is a story that I love and I want everyone else to hear it too.
Chanel: So, I consider myself a certified rink rat. I grew up with all brothers and was made to go to all their games and all their scrimmages and I absolutely hated it at the time, and I just found myself hanging out with all the siblings, mostly a lot of younger sisters like me. So, we just kind of literally would do laps around the rink having races and just being kids and it was really the highlight of my childhood being able to do that and just be kids. But I did not like sports in general for the longest time, and then in middle school I started getting into them a little bit because I would go to basketball that my friends were playing in, and then I kind of just realized how easy it was to follow, for me at least, and I just like the atmosphere of all being zoned into one thing and really enjoying what sports can do as far as bring people together.
Yeah, so, it’s just been kind of a fun journey because I really was a stereotypical however societal whatever girly girl growing up, so it just was not in my wheelhouse at all. So, I always think it's kind of funny to look at how obsessed I am now! And also being disabled in that realm is interesting too because I was completely aware that I would never play sport and I didn't have a desire to either because I’ve seen the behind the scenes of that and how much work and discipline that took, and I was like, that’s too much for me, I’d rather sit on the sidelines and watch and enjoy it rather than have to change my lifestyle in that way. I think that’s just because I’m lazy, but that’s fine. [laughter] But yeah, I love sports and it took me a really long time to get there, I feel like. But now that I am here I’m so lucky to be a part of so many great communities.
And particularly, like you said, my most important role, most impactful for me, was working for my high school women’s basketball team and just seeing how hard they worked and how differently perceived they were in my school, aside from boy sports basically. That didn't deter them at all – they were a really amazing team when I was there. I just did social media for them, but I was able to bring sort of an online audience to it. I didn’t really think that that was even possible at the time, but after a big game that we had I think a coach or assistant coach from the other side came up to me and was like, “Are you the one that tweets all the games?” I was like, yep! That’s me. They were like, “We follow you. You’re doing a great job,” whatever. It just seemed so random, but I was like, oh, this is doing something, you know? So that’s how I kind of got into sports.
Shireen: I mean, I love that. Do your brothers take credit for your love of hockey?
Chanel: No!
Shireen: Okay. [laughs]
Chanel: No. I was just with my brothers the other day and we went to a game together on our birthday – we have the same birthday but we’re not twins, freaky! [laughs] We went to a game together against the Penguins and it was a really tight game, it was really good. I look and he’s reading a book, and like…The rage that was inside of me was insane. [Shireen laughs] I was like, I let you come to the game with me and I look over and you’re reading a BOOK!? This is treasonous, in my opinion! I was like, this is too much. Never again. He has and will never go to another game with me – unless it’s somewhere where he can sit comfortably and read the book and it not be in my eyesight, because I couldn’t believe…And I told my other brother, you can’t come! I’m taking Chris with me, it’s our birthday, it’s our thing, whatever. And I know he wouldn’t have read, so I chose the wrong one that day. But I have the memories from it.
Shireen: I mean, yeah, growth and learning experiences are always really important. I know how passionate you are about hockey, which leads me to my next question. You’re a die-hard Bruins fan, and you know how I feel about the Bruins, like, I grew up as a Habs fan, this is a thing. But I wanted to talk a bit about shifting and pivoting to the Seattle Kraken role and how that came to be.
Chanel: Yeah. I had zero problems leaving part of my allegiance to them because from a culture standpoint the Boston Bruins in my opinion are really far behind, incredibly far behind. To put that into real terms, we just started recognizing and celebrating Willie O'Ree in organization. So, terrific, right? And I grew up in a time when I feel like it would have been really really important to start highlighting it a lot sooner, because he was doing things for hockey within the last 20…Like, the whole time I’ve been alive, practically. So I was really disappointed in that because when I found out about him, when I started doing separate research on him, I was like, how did I not know this was a thing!? First of all, how did I not know he existed. It changed the landscape completely. So, automatically disappointed, you know? I think that it’s important to hold our teams accountable for that type of stuff, because how do we expect the game to grow if we can’t even be celebratory of someone super super important?
And to flip that on its head, I was just in a meeting today about our plans for Black history month and MLK day and how important that is to our organization internally and externally, and I know those conversations are going on too among the league, but we’re not doing it in an urgent way in the sense of, like, we haven’t done enough before to make up for the lack of celebratory stuff or…You know what I mean? We’re not having the same urgency as some other places might be because in the past couple of years we’ve kind of just let it go. I was reminded today that the league didn’t really even do anything for MLK Day last year aside from post something really late in the east coast time, so we’re hoping for a little bit of a different tone this year but hopefully it comes across as authentic.
Shireen: Yeah, I feel that so deeply. You know me, I’m kind of following players at this point, and a mutual friend of ours, Fatou at Black Girl Hockey Club, had me on Braden Holtby at the Caps before he was traded to the Canucks. It was hard for me, being a Montreal Canadiens fan my whole life, like my mother – we’re into our third generation of Ahmed fans in my family, but like you said, I love the way you put that, that I was okay with leaving my allegiances when the franchise is not doing what it needs to do and is not reading the room and is not prioritizing what it needs to. So, Seattle is very lucky to have you and I hope that what they do sets a precedent for other teams moving forward, because it’s the first time I’d ever heard of disability week in hockey, and you did a live event and–
Chanel: Me too! [laughter] Me too.
Shireen: It was wonderful. It’s important, the work you’re doing. So, tell me a little bit about what the role entails at Seattle, like, what are you doing there?
Chanel: So, when I got the title confirmation I myself was like, “Intersectionality consultant? What does that even entail?” To me it means so many different things, but the biggest thing that I take away from it is just being a disabled body in this space, period. Add on the fact that I’m a woman, add on the fact that I’m a woman of color. All these things that…You know, the title means whatever it means to whoever made it up for me, basically, but to me it’s just being such a different person in this space. Luckily with the Kraken I’ll look at my screen and I will see somebody that looks like me – maybe not the disabled part, but I’ll see another woman, I’ll see another Asian woman there, and I’ll be like, okay, I don’t feel so small, you know? I think that that’s so important.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I said yes, but it was so refreshing because I did do an internship with the Bruins – it was super, super small, it was just like a shadowing thing in 2016, and I remember being like, there’s a couple women here, I feel comfortable being here. But there was such a lack of diversity in general that I was like, okay, kind of explain some things – why would we have these conversations if we’re not uncomfortable at all? I think that that landscape is starting to shift too, but to me I take my role as just being an advocate for a usually voiceless group of people. I sit on a couple of DE&I committees and I think I’m on the most…I was told that I’m on more than anybody, really.
Recently I just kind of decided to see what other opportunities I can have with an organization. I’m planning to shadow a couple of people just because while I do hope to keep this role for a little while I wanna make sure that I’m following my dream as well. I don’t even really know what that is, but I don’t wanna be put in a box or anything. So, just trying to make sure that especially with disabled hockey, that was crazy to me because I’d never heard of that. I don’t know if this was their inaugural year or whatever, but when I was asked to do it it was such a delicate thing, like, they didn’t force it upon me or anything like that but they were like, “If you're open to it, you should do it.” I was like, okay, yeah, I’m kind of nervous, that’s a lot!
Shireen: You were brilliant, you were flawless.
Chanel: And I was relatively new too! Yeah, thank you. I was so nervous the entire time and I was having technical difficulties, it was a whole thing. But I just knew that if some kid out there with a disability or a parent of a child with a disability saw this, that they could have more dreams for the kids and not be boxed into whatever career that they think they might not have access to, and that was what trumped all the anxiety for me, was like, “I need to do that for them.”
Shireen: Yeah, it was fantastic and I hope hope it’s an annual thing. I mean, as far as dreams go, I’m like, girl, I don’t even know what mine is! [Chanel laughs] I think I’m living out parts of it, but I’m 43.
Chanel: Yeah.
Shireen: So, you know, I’m so excited for this journey and to watch you and your star rise, because this is wonderful. So, I did also see you in another interview with friend of the show Erica Ayala for The IX, and I was thinking a lot about what you said about language about disabled folks and how that had been large created by able-bodied people. So, how do we do better in ensuring our language isn’t ableist or reductive? What do we do?
Chanel: Yeah, I think it’s tricky because I myself am so immersed in whatever societal language we have around disability now, like, I say, “I’m gonna go for a walk,” you know? Stuff like that. Something so simple like that, when like you literally didn’t walk, so why would you say that? Because everybody says that, and you know exactly what I mean when I say I went for a walk today, you know? I think it’s just a matter of giving space to the disabled voice and how they wish to be referred to as, because I myself…I don’t care if you get it wrong, I don’t really think there’s a “right” way right now to do it, so just listening to other disabled people and trying to make sure that we’re not modifying anything to make us comfortable, we’re trying to make them feel comfortable.
So, for me I think it’s just a learning curve and I’m open to people making mistakes because I think the only way we can make the language barriers better is through having conversations like this and through education, period. I’ve been excited to see a lot more children’s books depict disability and what that can do for the next generation, because I had a really weird childhood. I went to a school that was fully inclusive, and that meant that any child with any type of disability varying in severity or however you wanna put it was immersed with a full class of just what people call “average” children, and that changed how my group of friends grew up. So they’re comfortable in a space where they see somebody with a disability, they’re not, you know, magnetic eyes to them and staring at them and wondering all these things, they’re just comfortable. I think that we lack that type of connection and understanding and it comes off as ignorance and just a little bit of hostility, because you fear the unknown.
But it really starts with education and reading and watching documentaries, like, I watched plenty of documentaries over the summer and into the fall too, and I think that’s the best thing we can do is learn from the sources that we have, even if that is reading a children’s book, like, anybody can do that if they want to. So, just looking at your resources around you and being open to learning and to changing too a little bit because, like I said, my language is completely distorted by the able-bodiedness that I’m around and to me that’s not really a problem, that’s just the reality of it.
Shireen: I saw you tweet about how 2020 was meaningful for you in expanding your hockey networks and I really loved that because I’m a big proponent of holding joy where we can get it because 2020 was such a dumpster fire. [Chanel laughs] So, do you have advice for those starting out in sports and hockey, wanting to get involved? What did you do?
Chanel: Oh, gee. I have been on Twitter way too long. [Shireen laughs] I’ve been on since 2011. I’d always started a little bit too young, but it was so circumstantial to me because Twitter and the internet and social media in general unlock a whole different world for people with disabilities because there is such a limitation to be able to go to in-person events, even if that’s like a career fair. There’s so many different small but specific barriers that keep us out of industries in general, all across the board.
I think the level of accessibility that the internet holds is so, so powerful, that when I kind of figured out what people are receptive to, what language people are receptive too as well, I kind of tried to take advantage of that in the way of like, “Okay, if I phrase this a certain way people are gonna understand that I’m trying to teach them, I’m not trying to belittle them or accost them or shame them in any way,” like, being really open to teaching other people, even on a platform as wild as Twitter, I think is just super important. I’m finding myself more disabled influencers since I started being more vocal about my own disability. Even though I’m not super specific about it every single day, like, I’m not saying everything that’s going on all the time. I’m looking around and I’m like, oh, I found more disabled creators who understand what I’m going through or can add to the timeline of other people if I re-share their stuff.
I was just talking to myself on my podcast the other day, that I’ve tried to create an ecosystem of kind of positivity, a little bit reality, but ultimately if I’m feeling insecure or down about something or I’m looking at someone’s feed and it’s too perfect I’m okay with being like, “I’m gonna unfollow them for a little bit or I’m gonna mute them for a little bit until I’m okay enough to be acceptive of their happiness” – which sounds a little insensitive and downer I guess, but that’s to help my mental health. I don’t do it too often, but I think recognizing that the ability there to do that period is really important, and I recommend that to anybody too. Make sure that you’re building an ecosystem that is benefiting you and not making you feel badly about your self-image, your self-worth, all those things that make you a better person, I think is most important.
Shireen: Okay, I love this conversation because you also wrapped in a part about self-care and self-preservation, which I think is so important, especially in all these spaces. I do really appreciate conversations because in sports and mainstream sports bases and popular sports media we don't see enough, we don’t have enough disabled community members. We just don’t. We see like you talked about the lack of diversity in hockey and racialized diversity, for one, and I feel that so much obviously. I think that this idea of amplifying voices is so powerful and that’s what Twitter does. Yes, it’s a terrible abyss, but you and I met there! In fact, the entire crew of Burn It All Down met through Twitter so there’s a lot of benefits that can happen and I love that you are encouraging people to use it. So, let’s talk a little bit about the Kraken! I’m wondering if the Canucks will be your immediate mortal enemies because you’re both west coasters and what’s happening…What are you looking forward to about the season? What do you have your eye on – if you can tell me? Or wanna tell me?
Chanel: I am just so excited to see what we do. I’m very aware of what physical things we’re doing as far as our arenas are concerned and all of that, really cool behind the scenes stuff. But from from a hockey ops standpoint I have no idea what’s going on, [Shireen laughs] and I’m perfectly fine with that. In a lot of ways I love to sit in on those meetings because I really love our GM, but I’m just so excited. The element of surprise is really exciting for me, and the Canucks are already the enemy to me so that would just be normal. [Shireen laughs] Actually, so are the Canadiens, so again, to me it doesn’t matter. I’m just a fan of the Kraken and I’m sure we will make some sort of professional enemy along the way.
But I think it’s just a matter of showing up and showing out and making sure that people take us serious even though we’re an expansion team. I feel like this is almost a little bit more well-received than when Vegas came out, and I think that’s just because of where they are. So I feel like people have been desperate for Seattle to have a hockey team. So, in that regard I’m just excited in general. My dream is to go to the draft this year. I might have to weasel my way in there – I don’t know who I’m gonna have to talk to to get there, I don’t know what type of Make A Wish thing I need to bring up to the guys, but I’m like, please! Lemme come! I just wanna sit at the friggin’ table where you're all chattering all the time! It would just be so cool. Even by watching it at home I’d be just at thrilled, but I think being there would be pretty crazy.
Shireen: That’s incredible. I mean, that’s a mission. Let’s try for that! #ChanelToTheDraft! Why not? As long as obviously – because I’m gonna aunty right now and be like, “You’ve got to be safe, it’s a pandemic!”
Chanel: That’s a whole different situation. If it’s like…Yeah, I don’t know what the world’s gonna look like by then. I was asked to do a panel for next month and I was like, for some reason I thought it was in person. I was like, “Is this an in person thing? Is it Zoom?” And they were like, “It’s Zoom.” I was like, oh! Okay, I’ll be there. That’s fine. Because I am super neurotic about that. I haven't gone out…Literally I’ve only been to my brother’s house and that’s 20 minutes away from me. That’s the farthest I’ve gone, because I’m not immunocompromised but I am still high-risk at the same time, and I live with my grandma so she’s high-risk. There’s so much going on that you can still aunty me, I will accept it. [Shireen laughs] But I am super cautious.
Shireen: I think that’s called being responsible, which is exactly what we need.
Chanel: Yeah. [laughs]
Shireen: So, I appreciate you so much. Thank you so much, you’re an absolute delight and I can’t wait to see…I’m slithering over to the Kraken in my loyalty, I’ve gotta get myself some merch. It’s just those shipping fees to Canada kill me, so I’m like, ugh. But I’m so excited. Chanel, where can our listeners find you and your work?
Chanel: You can keep up with my caffeine-fueled antics at @chanelly37 on Twitter and everywhere else. I also have a linktree in my Twitter bio that has all my writing on it and links to my podcast and all that fun stuff. But fun fact about how I got my job at the Seattle Kraken: Black Girl Hockey Club actually shared my article that I wrote over the summer and it just ended up getting into the hands of my boss and that’s how she found me. So, a quick tip is to definitely send your work if you feel it’s something that you’re really passionate about and that you feel confident in to send it do any outlet or person who has their DMs open on Twitter. That’s what I did, I just shared my heart with them and said this is really important to me and my story wasn’t really about me finding a job, it was my hopes for the future and the world of hockey in regards to representation.
I shared a little bit of the personal with each and every one of them, a little bit different as well to make it more personal, and that’s how my article got passed around. So, I definitely recommend stuff like that to help reach more people and hopefully it gets into the airwaves that you wish. I’m definitely not ashamed of saying that that’s what I did, because it was networking. So, be proud of your work, share your story, and you’re super important and your voice matters.
Shireen: You’re welcome back here anytime. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and safe 2021.
Chanel: Same to you. Thank you so much for having me.