Old Navy is introducing a complimentary Santa training program aimed at attracting a more diverse range of applicants to portray the beloved holiday figure. Traditionally, Santa Claus has been depicted mostly as a cheerful white man with white hair. Given Santa’s worldwide significance, it is high time for him to reflect the diverse communities he represents. To address this issue, Old Navy is rolling out a Santa BOOTcamp designed to educate and prepare a new generation of Santa candidates, ultimately diversifying the Santa community.
The Diversity Issue in the Santa Industry
According to Old Navy, the Santa industry faces a significant diversity issue: fewer than 5% of professional Santas in the U.S. are people of color, while nearly half of children under 15 in the country identify as non-white. The Santa BOOTcamp aims to make Santa more representative of contemporary society, offering a virtual training course for aspiring Santas from all backgrounds and cultures. “We encourage participation from all ethnicities, cultural heritages, and backgrounds. Anyone interested in playing the role of Santa this year—whether professionally or in their community—should sign up,” Old Navy stated.
What the Santa BOOTcamp Offers
The 30-minute online course will cover essential skills for becoming Santa, such as answering common questions from children, learning key phrases in both sign language and Spanish, and capturing the perfect holiday photo. Old Navy collaborated with seasoned Santa Timothy Connaghan, founder of School4Santas, to develop this engaging course. Connaghan emphasizes that the essence of being Santa lies not in the red suit or white beard, but in one’s heart. A true Santa should spread joy and embody the holiday spirit, regardless of their appearance.
Meet the Trainers
Joining Connaghan in the training are other professional Santas, including Jordan Rivers, known as “The Real Inclusive Santa,” Maria Lopez, a bilingual Santa with 30 years in the field, and Leo Carter, referred to as “Soulful Santa.” Additionally, Old Navy will be casting a variety of diverse Santas to appear at its flagship stores in New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago for socially-distanced photo opportunities on December 4.
How to Get Involved
Those interested in becoming a Santa can find more information here. The bootcamp is free, open to everyone, and will occur online on November 19. For more insights on related topics, check out this other blog post. Additionally, for those exploring home insemination options, this is a great source of information. For comprehensive fertility services, consider visiting this link.
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Conclusion
In summary, Old Navy’s Santa BOOTcamp is a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing diversity among professional Santas. This free training program offers valuable skills for aspiring Santas from all backgrounds, ensuring that the spirit of Santa can be shared by everyone, regardless of appearance.

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