Prosecco, Purpose, and Pizza: The Origins of Athletes’ Voices [Founder’s Blog]
There are moments in life where you need to pause and appreciate how far you’ve come, and then, take a deep breath to prepare for what lies ahead. Or maybe two deep breaths as the second season of Athletes’ Voices continues to build momentum.
The idea for Athletes’ Voices sparked during a dynamic dinner conversation at a restaurant outside the gates of The Vatican in Rome, Italy several years ago. Around the table, we had a Paralympian, an NHL Hall of Famer, an MLB LGBTQIA+ activist, executives from Major League Soccer and ESPN, and board members from the LA84 Foundation and Special Olympics. We came together in Rome as delegates attending the first global conference designed to explore how our passion for sports combined with values to best serve humanity.
Collectively, we represented five different faith backgrounds with more than 120 years of experience in sports. Yet, we all shared a single belief – by harnessing the collective reach of athletes, teams, leagues, and governing bodies, sports can launch, grow, lead, and amplify discussions and activations tied to societal impact and change. We recognized that athletes have unique platforms that, when bolstered by the strategic development of the methods for and the platforms to increase visibility and specificity, could empower athletes at the center of social justice movements and engage a broader audience of potential supporters.
I was inspired by the passionate discourse shared over pizza paired with glasses of Sangiovese and Prosecco that night, but not sure how to bring it to fruition. I returned home and continued my one-on-one work with athletes and the charitable causes they supported, albeit with a slightly different focus. Slowly, the framework for what would become Athletes’ Voices began to form.
Athletes’ Voices enjoyed a successful launch highlighted by our Speaker Series which showcases prominent athletes discussing a variety of important social issues. Our second full season is building on that momentum and starting a stimulating new phase of growth. The opportunities are huge. So are the responsibilities.
Athletes’ Voices is positioned to greatly expand its support of athletes’ and their framework for activation to influence the causes they’re passionate about. It starts with the Athletes’ Voices Educational Certificate. Up to 50 athletes will be selected for the inaugural program. The degree of rigor included in the Certificate program is designed to empower athletes to be confident as they increase their visibility and use their voices to speak to topics that are close to their hearts. Politically and cause-agnostic, the program will provide the framework for athletes to speak on topics as diverse as mental health, environmental protection, physical wellness, play equity, pay equity, and more. Over a three-month time period, the participants will gain the knowledge needed to create personalized playbooks with strategies to enhance their platforms for maximum impact.
The most essential components of the Educational Certificate are the curricular elements supporting the creation of individualized playbooks for impact. Athletes will be matched with an academic institution to ensure alignment with the most current analysis and historical background of the issues they support. Presentations and discussions will be led by scholars, philanthropists, business leaders, activists, and other high-profile athletes.
Athletes will also receive training in social media, public speaking, and fundraising; learn to identify organizations and resources that align with their philanthropic efforts; and engage in personality and behavioral studies to discover their strengths when it comes to deploy the most effective tools for activism. They’ll also receive three months of intern support from the 20 students named to the newly created Student Fellows Program. The program is currently underway.
Both inaugural classes of the Educational Certificate and the Student Fellowship Program will convene for the first time in April. The three-day, in-person conference is the opportunity to start building that all important network of support for athletes using their voices on social issues. Following the convening, the Athletes’ Voices network will expand to include alumni of the certificate program as well as the mentors and fellows involved. The Speaker Series will continue to evolve, providing a platform for Voices alumni who haven’t been heard before or haven’t been heard widely to share their perspective.
Returning to where this all started at a dinner table in Rome, however, I am incredibly proud to share that all of those individuals who were a part of the conversation seven years ago are involved with Athletes Voices today They’re members of our advisory board, speakers on our panels, and advocates for the program.
Athletes’ Voices is a collaborative effort that’s exceeded all expectations. Our corporate sponsors provide the financial framework. Our academic partners design the educational framework. We’ve been able to create something that is sustainable and will continue to grow from here on out. I am no longer holding my breath but breathing deeply and planning for the marathon ahead.
