Novie Craven

Novie Craven is an active Special Olympics DC athlete and is employed as the communications coordinator for Special Olympics. Born at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on 4 June 1989, Novie was adopted at the age of 3. Her age aside, her interest in basketball was undeniable. In learning the sport, she became the only girl to compete in the local boys’ youth league. In the world of basketball, Novie idolized NBA legend Kobe Bryant and former University of Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt. From them, she inherited an unwavering passion for the game and a strong commitment to advocating for women and girls in sports.

After high school, she was introduced to Special Olympics by a family friend. Since 2012, she has trained and competed in various sports, including athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, golf and tennis. In 2018, she won gold in bocce at the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, Washington.

A year later, in 2019, Novie joined Special Olympics headquarters as the communications coordinator, where she supports the marketing, communications and development team. She also hosts Special Olympics’ Inclusion Revolution Radio podcast, leading critical conversations around access and belonging. With more than one million subscribers on YouTube, Novie is a powerful advocate for meaningful inclusion.