Special Olympics — with Tim Shriver and Diplomat/ Harvard Professor Nicholas Burns

I recently returned to Harvard as a graduate student at the Kennedy School of Government and have been attending powerfully inspirational events that I'd like to share with all of you. I'll continue to write about the events that I attend here.

Today, I went to an event sponsored by the school's Belfer Center titled "Non-traditional Actors in International Affairs," where Tim Shriver–the founder/CEO of the Special Olympics, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy–spoke at great length about how powerful each individual is in making a significant difference in the lives of those around us. Retired American diplomat and now Harvard professor Nicholas Burns (a very popular and well-loved professor at the Kennedy School!) moderated the conversation, and I wish all of you were there to listen and participate.

People with intellectual disabilities are continually treated in inhumane, and frankly, disgusting, ways in countless countries around the world today.  Special Olympics, now having served over 4 million athletes, is one of many excellent organizations that is working to empower people, shift social attitudes and behaviors, and work to improve the lives of others.

The 10th Special Olympics World Games will take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from January 29-February 5, 2013. The organization is currently looking for many volunteers for the World Games, as well as dozens of thousands of games that take place around the world year-round. Please get involved and figure out how you can contribute. I think we'll all be surprised at how much potential each small individual has to make a grand impact.

Here's a fun video about the upcoming World Games in South Korea.

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