Playing Forward: The Present and Future of Youth Sports
On October 27, 2016, the LA84 Foundation hosted over 400 civic leaders, sports industry executives, top athletes and difference-makers in the youth sports sphere at its Fifth Annual Summit. Themed Playing Forward: The Present and Future of Youth Sports, the Summit highlighted the foundation’s commitment to leveling the playing field and reinforcing the importance of youth sports. Speakers included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Kings President Luc Robitaille and Chairman of the LA 2028 Bid Committee Casey Wasserman, as well as Olympians Janet Evans, Ibtihaj Muhammad and Gary Hall Jr. among others. See highlights, event information, and learn more about the Summit below.
RECAPS

LA84 Celebrates Playing Forward At 5th Annual Summit
The event brought together civic leaders, sports industry executives and top athletes to work to elevate youth sports.

LA84 Summit Panel Recap: The Impact of the Olympics on Youth Sports
The Summer Olympic Games have not been in the United States for 20 years, but the LA 2024 Olympic Bid … Watch Now

LA84 Summit Panel Recap: Voices from the Field
Youth sports is a hot-button topic across the United States, with scholars and advocacy groups constantly aiming to solve relevant … Watch Now
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LA84 Summit Panel Recap: Stories from the Rio Olympics + How They Began
Olympians and Paralympians are at the pinnacle of their sports, and they didn’t reach such heights by accident. At the … Watch Now
LA84 Summit Panel Recap: The Power of Girls Who Play
Getting girls in the game is an issue paramount in a sporting world that does not always treat female athletes … Read More
LA84 Summit Panel Recap: Maximizing Impact through Collaboration
Partnerships. It’s a buzz word in the field of youth sports and in business on the whole, but how exactly … Watch Now
LA84 Summit Recap: Life Transformed Through Sports, Setting a New Course
LA84 Foundation President & CEO Renata Simril delivered the keynote address at the 5th Annual LA84 Foundation Summit on October … Watch Now
LA84 Summit Panel Recap: Solutions to the Youth Sports Dropout Problem
Youth sports isn’t as simple as youth deciding they simply want to play sports. For many, there are cost, geographic … Watch Now
LA84 Summit Panel Recap: Equity in Play
See panel takeaways and quotes on how to find safe sports spaces in undeserved communities.
VIDEOS
Lex Gillette Sings the National Anthem
Voices from the Field
The Olympic Effect
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Elevating the Field of Youth Sports
LA84 President & CEO Renata Simril speaks about LA84’s new path.Stories from the Rio Olympics
Four 2016 Olympians and Paralympians share their journeys.Recapping a Game-Changing Day
LA84 President & CEO Renata Simril and Julie Foudy recap the 2016 LA84 Summit.
2016 SUMMIT SPONSORS
Featured Speakers Sub Heading

Ibtihaj Muhammad

Luc Robitaille

Janet Evans
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More Featured Speakers
Casey Wasserman
Chairman, LA2024 Bid Committee, Chairman & CEO, Wasserman Media GroupBenita Fitzgerald Mosley
CEO, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation; OlympianJulie Foudy
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion, ESPN Analyst and ReporterBrenda Villa
Founder, Project 2020; Coach; Olympian, Water PoloBarbara Nwaba
2016 Olympian, Track & FieldRenata Simril
President & CEO, LA84 Foundation -
Agenda Sub Heading
Thursday, October 27, 2016 7:30am Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30am Mayoral Address with Mayor Eric Garcetti 8:45am Life Transformed Through Sports: Setting a New Course
Renata Simril, President and CEO, LA84 Foundation
9:05am The Impact of the Olympics on Youth Sports: LA84 + LA24 = Legacy Squared
Janet Evans (Olympian, Vice Chair & Director of Athlete Relations, LA 2024 Bid Committee) and Casey Wasserman (Chairman, LA2024 Bid Committee, Chairman & CEO, Wasserman Media Group) moderated by Alan Abrahamson (Lecturer, Journalism, USC Annenberg)
10:00am Youth Sports Breakout Sessions
Session 1: The Power of Girls Who Play, Presented by LA 2024
Marlene Bjornsrud (Director of Strategic Relationships, Alliance of Women Coaches), Laura Gentile (Senior Vice President, espnW and Women's Initiatives), Nicole LaVoi (Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, University of Minnesota) & Blanca Gonzalez, (Vice President/General Manager West Territory, Nike) moderated by Lolita Lopez (KNBC Reporter)
Session 2: Equity in Play: Safety, Space & Money, Presented by the Los Angeles Times
Dr. Keith Feder (Co-founder, Team to Win; Director, West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation), Ed Foster-Simeon (President & CEO, US Soccer Foundation), Keith Johnson (Executive Director, Falcons Youth and Family Services) & Brenda Villa (Founder, Project 2020; Coach; Olympian, Water Polo) moderated by Tony Brown (Executive Director, Heart of Los Angeles)
Session 3: Playing Smart: Solutions to the Youth Sports Dropout Problem, Presented by Fox Sports West
Rafael Acosta (Regional Director, LAUSD Beyond the Bell), Luc Robitaille (President, Business Operations, Alternative Governor, LA Kings), Jim Thompson (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Positive Coaching Alliance), Nichol Whiteman (Executive Director, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation) moderated by Mark Hyman (George Washington University, Author: The Most Expensive Game in Town: The Rising Cost of Youth Sports and the Toll on Today’s Families)
10:50am Break 11:10am Voices from the Field: Today’s Athletes
Jaiher Douglas (Basketball, Football, Augustus Hawkins High School), Emily Eisner (Founder, Play It Forward, Sierra Canyon School), Ezra Frech (Parathlete, Track & Field, Brentwood School), Kayla Novak (Cycling, Tennis, Redondo Union High School), SaraJoy Salib (Water Polo Athlete, Venice High School) moderated by Gary Hall, Jr. (Olympian, Swimming, Healthcare Advocate)
11:55am Elevating the Field: Maximizing Impact through Collaboration
Kelly Cheeseman (COO, AEG Sports), Sherrie Deans (Executive Director, National Basketball Players Association Foundation), Caitlin Morris (North America Executive Director, Global Community Impact, Nike), Benita Fitzgerald Mosley (CEO, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation; Olympian) moderated by Tom Penn (President & Co-Owner, Los Angeles Football Club)
12:45pm Lunch & Networking
1:20pm Striving for Excellence: Stories from the Rio Olympics + How They Began
Lex Gillette (2016 Paralympian, four-time medalist, Track & Field), Steven Lopez (2016 Olympian, three-time medalist, Taekwondo), Ibtihaj Muhammad (2016 Olympian, Fencing), Barbara Nwaba (2016 Olympian, Track & Field) moderated by Julie Foudy
2:10pm Closing Remarks
Renata Simril (President & CEO, LA84 Foundation)
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