Bridge II Sports at the Project Play 2026 Summit
Bridge II Sports was proud to be represented at the Project Play 2026 Summit in Boston, where Stuart James and Mac Renslow attended as part of our continued partnership with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation's Sports Matter Impact League supporting our Everybody Plays NC initiative.
Project Play, led by the Aspen Institute, brings together leaders from across the country who are working to increase access to youth sports and create more inclusive, equitable play environments. This year’s Summit focused on reimagining the future of sport—ensuring that every child, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to play.
Through our work with Everybody Plays NC, Bridge II Sports is helping introduce adaptive sports into school systems across North Carolina. This program focuses not only on providing access to inclusive activities, but also on fostering open conversations around disability, building understanding, and creating school environments where all students feel welcome to participate. Being invited to the Summit through this partnership was an opportunity to bring the voice and experience of adaptive sports into a national conversation.
Chuck Todd Host, The Chuck Toddcast,
Former Host, Meet the Press
The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers and thought leaders from across the sports, education, and nonprofit sectors. Conversations centered around key themes like increasing participation, breaking down barriers to access, and designing programs that meet the needs of underserved and overlooked communities—including individuals with disabilities. Speakers emphasized the importance of meeting participants where they are, rethinking traditional models of sport delivery, and prioritizing inclusion from the ground up—principles that are core to Bridge II Sports’ mission.
One of the most valuable takeaways from the Summit was the emphasis on collaboration. Creating meaningful change in youth sports requires partnerships between nonprofits, schools, national organizations, and local communities. The work happening through Everybody Plays NC is a strong example of this, bringing together organizations that share the goal of expanding access and opportunity through sport.
For Bridge II Sports, attending the Summit reinforced the importance of continuing to grow adaptive sports opportunities both within schools and throughout the community. It also provided new ideas and connections that will help strengthen our programs moving forward.
We are grateful to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation for their partnership and support in making this opportunity possible, and we are excited to continue building a more inclusive future for sport—both here in North Carolina and beyond.