Daniel Smrokowski Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger Blog #5: 2019 Reflections and 2020 Opportunities
By Daniel Smrokowski, Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger — Special Olympics Illinois Athlete Leader
2019 was an impactful year filled with inclusive adventures. I’m grateful for all the memories I made, which paved the way for new opportunities. Before we totally turn the page from 2019, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on a few highlights, what I’ve learned and how I’ve impacted others, and look ahead to the rest of 2020.
In January 2019, I began my journey as a Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger (SSIGM) and took part, with my fellow SSIGM’s in an incredibly life-changing training at Special Olympics Headquarters in Washington D.C. In just 5 days, we connected and bonded as a family. As a group, we learned about meeting with celebrities, ambassadors, and supporters. We enjoyed having lunch together, learning about media training and social media, we practiced and gave our two-minute speeches to the Special Olympics HQ staff and had fun with Tim Shriver, Chairman of our movement.
In March 2019, I had the honor of traveling to Abu Dhabi for Special Olympics World Games. Along with my mentor Chris Winston (Chief Marketing Officer with SO Illinois) and SSIGM family, we had an incredibly impactful time in the UAE. A key message that was shown from these Games, was that we are People of Determination. We came together to show how we can be Unified. I’m grateful for everyone coming together to show their support for all of us people of determination. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to co-host events, speak at receptions, and be one of the hosts of a podcast program at these Games — The Abu Dhabi Daily Show.
Along with our coaches, volunteers, and staff we can all live in a world that is UNIFIED. A world that is kind. A world that is inclusive. A world that is compassionate. And a world that shows dignity. A world that focuses on the gifts that we bring to our community.
Back home in Chicago, Illinois, I had another amazing inclusive opportunity. On the 51st Anniversary of Special Olympics, July 20, 2019, an amazing Unified event took place at the Park West Theater in Chicago.
Ryan Dempster, a former player for the Chicago Cubs baseball team, who played 16 years as a professional (this would be equivalent to a high level soccer player and team in other countries) hosted a live late-night style talk show event called Off The Mound. Along with other high celebrities, this event raised over $80,000 for Special Olympics Illinois. Special guests during this event included: Chicago Cubs World Series Champion Anthony Rizzo, Former Chicago Cubs Outfielder Moises Alou, Legendary Chicago Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick, Chicago Comedian Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Goldbergs),and more.
A truly inclusive moment happened midway during the show. One of the segments I was invited on stage as a guest during Ryan’s show. Ryan and I switched places and I had the opportunity to interview him on stage.
In front of a live audience, I had the opportunity to host a segment of Ryan’s Off The Mound show.
“Inclusion is having a world that is open to everybody. … that everybody has the opportunity to do what somebody else is doing,” said Ryan Dempster.
Watch the Full Live Interview: https://youtu.be/aodCITbVC3E
Another highlight from this year was the opportunity to host a live podcast taping panel discussion at Special Olympics North America’s Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit in Chicago. Youth leaders (high school students to college students) came from across the U.S. and Canada to talk about what leadership means to them, creating inclusive communities, and the impact of the Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit. In hosting the panel discussion, I had the opportunity to bridge the gap between Athlete Leadership and Youth Leadership within our movement. Listen to the conversation: specialchronicles.com/podcast349
After this amazing opportunity in Chicago, I had the opportunity to travel to Dublin, Ireland from October 14–18. Along with Dave Breen, President/CEO with Special Olympics Illinois, and Karen Milligin, Director of Athlete & Family Services with Special Olympics Illinois, we participated in a Global Athlete Leadership Workshop. During the week, we launched a new Unified Leadership model for Athlete Leadership.
Over 60 Special Olympics leaders came together — fellow Athlete Leaders, Program staff and leadership — to collaborate and create a new inclusive program. A program where we as Athlete Leaders can participate and lead alongside our program staff. Listen to my conversation with Dave on the impact of the Athlete Leadership Program and the future of Unified Leadership: specialchronicles.com/podcast351
Since October, I’ve had a new career opportunity thanks to the amazing global partnership between Special Olympics and United Airlines. United has created a fully inclusive employment opportunity as a Service Ambassador. I’m 1 of 4 Athlete Leaders from Special Olympics Illinois working at O’Hare International Airport. In working in the lobby of Terminal 1, I’m assisting customers with directions, tagging luggage, and providing customer service support.
One part of this inclusive employment partnership was a Job Shadow Day. This was an opportunity that we had to shadow Customer Service agents at United. Within a week of being employed, I had an opportunity to travel to Houston, Texas to participate in United’s Employee Plane Pull event. At the Plane Pull, United employees from across the world took place in this event. I even had an opportunity to speak to over 600 employees, on behalf of my fellow Special Olympics athletes — and now as a United employee. This is an amazing opportunity to be fully included into the United family. Being part of a community that cares and connects with people across the world is an amazing feeling. I’m grateful for how United Airlines has joined our Inclusion Revolution.
2019 has been filled with inclusive adventures. I’m looking forward to a new year, as the second year of my SSIGM term begins. In this new year, I’m looking forward to more opportunities that will further our Inclusion Revolution.
In the coming year of 2020, I’m looking forward to opportunities to empower my fellow athlete leaders. I hope to use my leadership and communication skills to co-host events, work with our celebrity ambassadors, and my fellow Athlete Leaders. In co-emceeing events and live shows, we can show the power of living in a Unified world. In the new year, I also look forward to growing a Global Athlete Media platform in partnership with SpecialChronicles.com, the nonprofit media platform that I founded 11 years ago to give respect and voice to those of us with special needs.
Together, we can connect with Athlete Leaders and the mainstream community to show the power of inclusion, acceptance, joy, and the unconditional love that those of us with intellectual disabilities bring to our world. As we continue to work together in the new year, we can create understanding for the determination that those of us with intellectual disabilities bring to our community.
Join me and together we can lead to include. I encourage you, dear friends, to join our Inclusion Revolution and take the inclusion pledge at JoinTheRevolution.org.
