From January 20-22, the Institute for International Sport collaborated with Middlebury College in the administration of a series of World Youth Peace Summit activities on the Middlebury campus. The program was aimed at fostering thoughtful discussion on the role of sport and the arts in the peace process. View the schedule of the highly successful events that took place.
Institute staffers Kim Kennedy and Heather Neuwirth are both '08 graduates of Middlebury – and two of the finest young professionals we have ever employed. In mid-October, Kim and Heather visited their alma mater to present the concept of the World Youth Peace Summit to the Middlebury Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Following that meeting, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, with the great help of Middlebury Athletic Director, Erin Quinn, and head women's tennis coach, Mike Morgan, developed the three-day program. I was present at the various sessions, and felt it was one of the most successful initiatives we have ever been part of. One of the many exciting results is that this concept can now be replicated on other college campuses.
Following the program, I remained on the Middlebury campus to work with students in Professor Jon Isham’s January term class entitled: “21st Century Challenges.” The objective of Jon’s class was to develop a strategic plan for our forthcoming Center for Social Entrepreneurship. I was struck by Jon’s masterful teaching skills, and the brilliance and commitment of the young people in the class. All of us at the Institute for International Sport, including Alan Hassenfeld, look forward to reviewing the strategic plan, which I am confident will be superb.
Then, for the 12th straight year, I addressed the Middlebury January term Sport and Society class, co-taught by Donald “Dee” Rowe, my former coach and lifelong hero (and Middlebury graduate) and Bill Beaney, Head Men’s Hockey Coach at Middlebury, and one of the Institute’s 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America. Working with the tremendous young people in that classroom was inspiring.
The trip ended with Dave Donahue, Special Assistant to Middlebury President Ron Liebowitz, and I meeting with Governor Peter Shumlin and his Chief of Staff, Bill Lofy. Governor Shumlin expressed strong interest in the future of the World Youth Peace Summit and Center for Social Entrepreneurship. He is eager for Middlebury College and The State of Vermont to play a key role.
Special thanks to Middlebury President Ron Liebowitz and his wife, Jessica, two terrific people. And, of course, to Dave Donahue, Jon Isham, Mike Morgan, Erin Quinn, Liz Robinson, Mike Schoenfeld, Georgia Wright-Simmons, the many students who helped make this happen – and so many other wonderful people I met over the period of my stay.
And finally, to Alex Wolff, senior staff writer at Sports Illustrated. Alex did a brilliant job moderating the opening panel on January 20.