Sport in Society Sends Call to Action to President Obama
(5-5-09) Sport in Society announced the release of "Embracing the Power of Sport and Culture: An Opportunity to Effect Change at the Sport-Culture-Government Intersection," a call to action recommendation to President Barack Obama that the United States formally promote sport and culture in government. This could help the United States harness the power of sport and culture to effect change on many issues President Obama champions, including health and fitness, social inclusion, human rights, and diplomacy. Specific potential actions or manifestations included the creation of a secretary or special advisor for sport and culture, increased attention to and funding for existing programs, or further investigation into potential opportunities to enhance the sport-culture-government intersection. Download the full proposal here.
The recommendation was designed to foster a broader discussion about the role of sport and culture in government at this critical, momentous time in U.S. history. This call for action makes the case for increased leadership and support toward sport and culture in communities and schools around the country. The call to action advocates for individuals, schools and institutions in the United States to utilize the power of sport, music, dance, and other cultural agents of empowerment and human development.
Numerous sport and culture advocacy groups, government officials, researchers, athletes, artists, and sport and culture leaders helped review and provided input into the proposal. According to Eli Wolff, the Manager of Research at Sport in Society, "One decade into the 21st century, we stand at a crossroads on issues surrounding sport, culture, and government. With the election of Barack Obama as President, we have a unique opportunity to make sure we head in the right direction. That is why this proposal is so important."
Sport in Society officially introduced the proposal on May 6th at its annual Human Rights Leadership Forum, an event honoring and celebrating the work of hundreds of student leaders in Sport in Society outreach programs. All of the students signed a letter to President Obama emphasizing why they think the proposal is so important. The student-participants also initiated and contributed to the process of creating an artistic call to action for sport and culture that was also presented to President Obama.
As the next step in the discussion and exploration of this issue, Sport in Society will host a panel session about the sport-culture- government proposal at its Power of Sport Summit from June 18-19 2009 in Boston. Summit participants will have the opportunity to join their voices with the others who have crafted the proposal up to this point.
To continue the discussion and collaboration on this project, visit Sport in Society’s website www.sportinsociety.org or contact Eli A. Wolff, Manager of Research, 617-373-8936, e.wolff@neu.edu.