Lia Simmons
“My name is Lia Simmons. I'm currently a Senior in high school. I've been rowing for the past five years out of Oakland, California. In the fall, I'll be continuing my journey of rowing at the University of Pennsylvania. Over the past year, the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund has done a lot for me and my progression as an athlete with participation in events like Stockton and Craftsbury that were really built to just celebrate Black rowers and people of color and also inspire the youth and show them the power that rowing has to bring.”
Jayden Dasher
“My name is Jayden Dasher, and I currently row at St. Benedict's Prep down in Newark, New Jersey. And next year, I'll be attending the University of Washington to continue my academic and rowing career with the dreams of becoming an Olympian one day. So as many of you know, there aren't a lot of Black Olympians in the sport of rowing. So what I hope is that as we continue to diversify the sport of rowing, that more kids, more kids of color to be exact, will follow my follow my footsteps, who have the same dreams as I do, to become an Olympian one day.”
“It is absolutely a beautiful thing when children from the inner city have a chance to get out on the river, feel that peace, be part of a team, and row. So glad we are creating opportunity! Please check out the documentary - I promise you it will inspire you.”
Arne Duncan
FORMER SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
“This is truly an inspiration to see what you guys do and I want our Olympic teams to be inspired by this."
Mike Teti
US ROWING, OLYMPIC COACH
