Athletes' Voices and the Mother Tree

“A tree can be only as strong as the forest that surrounds it.” ― Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate 

Twenty five leaders. Twenty five voices. Three days of Athletes' Voices planning, conversing and building at the stunning 1440 Multiversity campus in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The result? Awe inspiring momentum for the Athletes' Voices program as we move forward with tremendous excitement towards the December 2021 launch of the application for the inaugural cohort of the Athletes' Voices Certificate Program.

But first, let me tell you about the Mother Tree. The Mother Tree is the hub of the community where it grows, providing water and nutrients through underground connections to the other trees in her grove. The Mother Tree at 1440 Multiversity is thought to be 1,200 years old and its majestic presence is humbling.

Our convening of 25 athletes, academics, advisors, and strategists was like the root system of the Mother Tree, focused on building connections, creating a network of support, and developing a concrete plan to nourish the voices of athletes through the development of their individualize playbooks for social impact.

Collectively, we realized that the energy of collaboration, creativity, open and honest communication and the commitment to a singular goal was enhanced greatly by the opportunity to be together not just in meeting rooms but also around a drum circle, fire pit, during meals, through yoga and stargazing, and in casual, organic conversations.

We started the retreat with an idea based on a vision and left with a roadmap, individual and collective ownership and the powerful energy of a group united and inspired. And like the Mother Tree, it was an awesome sight to behold!

As we share in the Athletes' Voices vision statement - "When Athletes use their voices, the impact is exponential." If this retreat is a foreshadowing of what is to come for the Athletes' Voices program when we convene again at 1440 Multiversity from February 28 - March 3, 2022 with our inaugural cohort of elite and professional athletes, the exponential impact will be transformative. I can't wait!

How can you get involved?

• Attend an Athletes' Voices Speaker Series program - full schedule is available HERE
• Encourage elite and professional athletes from all sports to visit athletesvoices.org and to apply for the Certificate program. Applications will be live in early-December and due in early-January and available HERE
• Support our efforts! Join us as an individual donor, corporate sponsor or in-kind donor. Suggest a speaker (or nominate yourself for a speaking role) for an upcoming episode of the Athletes' Voices Speaker Series.

#SpiritLifted and #SoulWarmed. Thank you, Athletes' Voices Advisory Boards and Strategists and thank you, 1440 Multiversity. What a beautiful week.

Best,

Joanne