Youth sports activity is largely drawn up by adults, often with little input from kids. So what do kids want out a sports experience? Olympic champion sprinter Allyson Felix led a conversation with Little League star Mo’ne Davis and other children at the Project Play Summit, where 350 leaders from across eight sectors gathered to explore and consider ways to activate around the recent release of the report, “Sport for All, Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game.”
Moderator: Allyson Felix
Four-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Track & Field
Felix is a professional track and field athlete, specializing in the 100, 200, and 400 meters. Felix led an active childhood, playing many sports before trying track and field for the first time in the 9th grade. Felix turned professional after finishing high school and graduated from the University of Southern California. In 2012, Felix became the first athlete since Florence Griffith-Joyner to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. She is a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and has been an advocate for Let’s Move! Active Schools.
Panelists:
Mo’ne Davis
Pitcher, Taney Dragons
Davis, 13, became the first girl to win and pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series (LLWS) when her team emerged victorious in August 2014. She is also the first African-American girl to play in the LLWS. For her baseball performances, Mo’ne was named one of “The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014” by Time Magazine; Sports Illustrated Kids named her “Sports Kid of the Year” for 2014; and espnW recognized Mo’ne on their “Impact 25” list for 2014. Mo’ne is also an outstanding basketball player.
Madalin Gomez
Participant, DC SCORES
Gomez, 13, is a participant in DC SCORES and a leader for her team. DC SCORES is a local chapter of America SCORES, a national nonprofit that provides programming for low-income youth in over 150 schools in 14 cities across the US. DC SCORES operates in 47 schools and reaches 1,500 youth.
Bodhi Lovely
Youth Advisory Board Member, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Lovely, 12, is a member of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Youth Advisory Board. In his community of Russellville, Ark., he introduced “Might Nights,” free, twice monthly fitness nights. His favorite healthy snack is mulberries.
Gabe Shanoff
Bethesda, Md.
Gabe Shanoff is an 8-year-old from Bethesda, Maryland. He plays basketball, soccer, swimming, flag football, fantasy football and was a finalist in his elementary school spelling bee. His favorite athletes are Cam Newton and Russell Westbrook.
Learn more about the Project Play Summit and report at: www.ProjectPlay.us
