Week 1

Hello everyone! My name is Jim Mower and here is my first, fashionably late blog. I am a recent graduate of Lafayette College and studying for my Masters of Business Studies at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown. My blogs will be short and sweet so they can keep Gareth’s attention since most of the blogs he reads have more pictures than words. 

Matt and I have been very busy training with the Ulster Elks, while also helping coach the junior Elks and Under 15 Northern Ireland Girls team. Thus far, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the E-hoops program as well, which hopes to raise the aspirations of at-risk youth through sport. I believe that understanding where these kids come from is an integral part in successfully working with them. That is why I think the Belfast mural tour was valuable part in helping me learn some of the social pressures Ehoopers might face in their neighborhood and why there is a communal divide. The Ehoops session that Matt and I recently took part in is coming to a close as the boys have been participating in the program for months now. It seems to have been a success for the simple fact that I could not tell who is what religion because there are no cliques at all. I was told it was not like that from the start and look forward to taking part in the process from the beginning when a new batch of ehoopers arrives in the coming weeks!

Lastly, I want to thank Deirdre, Gareth, the Maguire girls, Mark, Stephen and many others for welcoming me into this community and organization. I feel very fortunate to be part of the Sport Changes Life family and look forward to a wonderful year!

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