Close to two years on as VP of culture and inclusion, Raptors' Wiggins has just begun

John Wiggins has been preparing for what he’s doing now his whole life.

Even if he wasn’t aware of it.

The important work the Toronto Raptors do off the court that John helps spearhead has been something ingrained in him since he was a child by his mother, Ruth.

“My mother worked for Toronto District School Board and for York School Board as a community liaison officer," Wiggins said. "And wherever she was, I was.

"Whether it was Greek dance programming, whether it was after-school senior programs, whether it was Black History Month programming, my mother was involved throughout the western Toronto district in community relations and engaging different communities throughout her region and connecting them to the school board. And I witnessed that at a very young age."

Wiggins is the Raptors’ vice-president of organizational culture and inclusion. He took over the role in July 2020, in the middle of a summer of racial unrest following the killing of Breonna Taylor and murder of George Floyd by police.

The Raptors have since been involved in a number of social justice initiatives. They considered a boycott of Game 1 of their second-round series with the Boston Celtics during the 2019-20 bubble season in response to the Jacob Blake shooting by a police officer. The team publicly decried the storming of Capitol Hill by far-right extremists on Jan. 6, 2021. And a new art installation outside of Union Station, inspired by the words and legacy of Nelson Mandela, was launched by Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri.

But the work in the fight against racism and for social change is just beginning for Wiggins and the Raptors.

Wiggins entered his new gig in trying circumstances. After the Raptors finished off their