“There's no shortage of need, which alone is a compelling reason to get involved with Play for Peace. The connections I’ve experienced while traveling have taught me that there are commonalities between all cultures – these are the responses to laughter, play, compassion, connection, and love, all that PFP promotes. The more we have of these things, the better.” (Stephen Proudman, Board of Directors)
As you all know, we have a large and diverse group of people that contribute to the Play for Peace mission, from all around the world. As part of our goal to further unite our community members, we’ve been interviewing our Board of Directors. Last month we spoke to the lovely Janet McDonell - board secretary, and acclaimed child’s author and illustrator. This month we’d like to introduce you to yet another crucial member of the PFP team: Stephen Proudman. Stephen is the newest member of our Board of Directors and comes with an exhaustive résumé from his work in experiential education. An avid traveler born in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Stephen is well-versed in the fields of leadership and group dynamics. He has worked, for many years, to foster positivity in communities and businesses throughout the United States and abroad. Last week I spoke to Stephen in Denver, Colorado, where he had come to visit one of his daughters in her college hometown.
PFP: Stephen! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat today. Tell me, how did you come to be involved in PFP? SP: Well, I’ve actually known Michael Terrien and Craig Dobkins, PFP co-founders, before PFP even existed. I knew them from the experiential learning work that I do, and when the organization began, I intially joined as a Board Member. Over time, my life took me in a different direction: I worked from home and raised my three daughters, and was involved with a number of other groups. Now that my daughters are older - two in college, and another in high school - my availability has opened up. I figured that I could get involved more directly! At this point in my career, it’s time to add value and help, where I can, to make a great organization even better.
PFP: What do you admire about PFP? SP: The organization is based in practice: it doesn't just talk about building peace, but has a very simple program to do so, one that is transferrable across cultures. I think the world needs more of it. I’m 59, and have thirty-plus years of doing experiential learning with people of various ages. Planting seeds of positivity, especially at a young age, is so critical. The world that children live in - their perceptions - are generated through experience. It's harder for people to be optimistic when they live in negative circumstances. By serving others and improving circumstances, PFP brings us stories of joy and hope from people of all circumstances. If I can get involved with an organization that lights up the human spirit in this way, then that’s a great cause to get connected to.
PFP: Can you tell us a bit more about your background? SP: I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and went to Penn State as an undergrad: I took the long road there, about seven years in and out to complete my studies. In the interim, I was hitchhiking, traveling, and learning differently. I eventually moved to the Mid-West after some time in Colorado and Alaska, and later attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I ended up with a degree in adult education and focussed on experiential learning. I then went to work for Outward Bound and tried many other things. During these years, I learned a lot about organizational structures and challenges. Mostly what I do now is leadership work, with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. I am a senior associate with White Men as Full Diversity Partners, in which I lead learning laboratories: we deal with gender, race, and sexual orientation in the business world. A lot of the diversity work we do comes from simple dialogue: sitting in a circle and talking to each other for a few days. It’s incredibly challenging and rewarding. It parlays into what PFP is doing, and I really see the impact.
PFP: Fantastic! What do you hope to bring to PFP in your time here? SP: My main goal is to contribute to resource expansion. It’s amazing how well the organization operates within its budget, and I feel that even more growth would create a greater impact. So one of my goals is to focus on fundraising and networking both abroad and internationally, to create that broader reach of resources. A big thank you to Stephen for taking the time to chat. Keep an eye out for more of our Board Member Profiles!
