Youth sports in Baltimore will get a big lift next week when the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit takes place in the city on May 14 and 15.
Day One will take place at the UA House at Fayette, and Day Two will take place at Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood Campus.
Aspen Institute’s 2024 Project Play Summit is presented by Under Armour, and brings together civic leaders and athletes to champion youth sports. The summit will feature Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, retired Orioles player Cal Ripken Jr., Paralympian Tatyana McFadden, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank, USA Today Sports Columnist Christine Brennan, and many more.
These leaders of foundations, companies, amateur and professional sports organizations, and communities will gather to discuss the state of youth sports in the United States. They will highlight the benefits of participation in youth sports and how it leads to healthier, more invested 4communities.
2024 Project Play Summit will focus on four main themes: School Sports, Governance, Coaching, and Building Healthy Communities. In general sessions as well as breakouts surrounding the themes, attendees will learn about tools and insights from youth, policymakers, national sports leaders, and citizen-athletes.
Baltimore was the site of Project Play’s first State of Play report released in 2017. Since then, upon the Summit’s return to the city, Baltimore has taken many positive steps towards increasing sports access for its children.
Sessions cover topics including “Baltimore as a Beacon,” “How to Protect a House: Create Safe Spaces,” “Health Equity in Youth Sports,” “Middle School Sports: Filling the Gap,” and more. To see the two-day Summit’s full agenda, click this link.
Speakers over the course of the two days will include:
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
- MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.
- 20-Time Paralympic Medalist Tatyana McFadden
- Mexican Flag Football Team and NFL Flag Football Ambassador Diana Flores
- Mayor of Baltimore Brandon M. Scott
- Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri Quinton Lucas
- Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank
- USA Today Sports Columnist Christine Brennan
- University of Maryland Head Football Coach Mike Locksley
- Two-Time Super Bowl Champion and Founder of LEVEL82 Torrey Smith
- Fox Sports Broadcaster and Former NFL Pro Bowler Greg Olsen to emcee.
For a full list of speakers, click this link.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization with the mission of igniting human potential and building understanding in addition to creating new possibilities for a better world. It was founded in 1949, has its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado. The Institute aims to drive change and help solve society’s greatest challenges through dialogue, leadership, and action.
Project Play is The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program’s main initiatives. It develops, mobilizes, and shares information that builds healthy communities through sports and play.
The 2024 Project Play Summit is sold out, but most of the events will be livestreamed. People interested in livestreaming the Summit can see an agenda and register for the livestream by clicking this link.
