LIFE MATTERS – Orlando Bowen – Gamechanger

What would you do if you were Orlando Bowen?  Orlando was a professional CFL football player whose career, and almost life ended by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Orlando was given a severe beating at the hands of bad cops. Instead of seeing himself as the victim, or becoming obsessed with revenge and redemption, Orlando used his experience to further his quest to empower the youth and to bridge the divides that divide society.  In this episode, you will celebrate Orlando’s upbringing.  His family immigrated to Canada when he was three.  His Dad worked three jobs, and his Mom also did everything she could to help put food on their table.  Orlando’s Grand Parents were instrumental in helping to raise them. Their family didn’t have a lot, shared with others that had less, but what they had was love and a desire to see Orlando get an education and find purpose.  Orlando not only played professional football, in his spare time he worked in the community and both a liaison between the police force and the community, as well as mentoring youth.  Athletics was important but his education and quest even at a young age to do more and be more are what every parent hopes for with their kids.

On the night where Orlando thought he would be celebrating his contract extension with friends, and waiting for those friends at a meeting place where they could carpool, he got approached by two undercover cops.  For no reason, Orlando went from being interrogated to taking a severe beating that ended his playing career and almost his life.  He was taken to jail, denied any medical help or even a phone call and paraded the next day into the courtroom where he was charged with drugs that the cops planted next to his car.  Orlando was acquitted and one of the cops who were part of that tragic night was found guilty of dealing drugs and sentenced to prison.

What happens afterwards is what LIFE MATTERS is all about.  Orlando refused to be a victim, or seek revenge.  Instead, he has used this experience to further his quest to empower youth, to help corporations and to bridge the divide that divides society.  At the end of the podcast, Gopal Bansal, the VP of Diversity and Inclusion joins the show to talk about ways in which we can open our minds to be more inclusive.

Show Notes:

In this podcast, we first cover the backstory of Orlando Bowen, and how his life had everything he desired.  A wife, child and one on the way, a contract extension with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and a life where his spare time was spent doing community service.

All of this changed, and instantly when Orlando Bowen was severely beaten by two corrupt police officers.  What Orlando does after his horrific experience is remarkable.

This podcast Orlando Bowen – Gamechanger will leave you inspired and with valuable lessons in life.

Gopal Bansal from RBC joins me at the end of the program to offer his ideas on how we can open our minds to more diversity and inclusion.

Orlando Bowan

Web – http://www.orlandobowen.com

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