From July 20 to 28, U.S. baseball players Anttonio Montana Brown and John Brendan Guinan will conduct a baseball “Train the Trainer” program to train young men and women who play baseball in Tocopilla and Antofagasta, with the idea that they someday become coaches. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, with the support of the Ganamos Todos Foundation.
During the 8-day program, the baseball players will conduct a series of theoretical and practical workshops, as well as sports clinics with trainers and players. This program is part of the U.S. State Department’s Sports Diplomacy initiative, which has emerged as an integral part of efforts to build strong and positive relations between the people of the United States and other nations.
Sports Diplomacy leverages the universal passion for sports as a way to transcend linguistic and sociocultural differences and bring people together. Participation in sports teaches leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that help young people succeed in all areas of their lives. It also helps promote good health and prevent obesity.
Anttonio Montana Brown and John Brendan Guinan, along with U.S. Embassy and Ganamos Todos Foundation representatives, will be in Tocopilla July 22-23 and in Antofagasta July 24-26.
Anttonio Montana Brown
A native Washingtonian, Anttonio played baseball and football at Parkdale High School. Following graduation, Anttonio enrolled at Tyler Junior College in Texas. Anttonio then decided to walk on to the football team at Virginia-Lynchburg, and after a period of time, he earned a full academic scholarship and has twice been named to the Division I All-American Team.
Anttonio plans on pursuing a Master’s degree. He credits his experience at Home Run Baseball Camp with helping him develop as a leader, “Home Run baseball camp has been an enduring part of my life and it is a huge honor to now be a coach myself. Every day I try to give the young baseball players the same encouragement, fundamentals, and character lessons that so many coaches took the time to instill in me.” Anttonio’s favorite book is The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
John Brendan Guinan
A native Washingtonian, John B. Guinan has been working with youth since his days as a high school student. His first foray into youth development was under the tutelage of nationally-acclaimed Washington, DC-based coach John McCarthy at Home Run Baseball Camp. John was named assistant director of the camp at the age of 18. Upon graduating from college, John worked as a Program Director for Peace Players International, using sports as a tool to bridge the divide between youth in war-torn Northern Ireland.
John left the youth development field to pursue a career in Management Consulting. He was most recently a product strategy manager for a Fortune 500 IT and management consulting firm. John eventually decided to leave his corporate job to pursue his passion of working in youth development and has since teamed up with his mentor, Coach Mac, to work at Home Run Baseball Camp as a coach and deputy director of community outreach.
Along with coaching baseball, John has also facilitated mindfulness training sessions with youth ages 4-12 years in Brooklyn NY and in inner city Washington, DC. John is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and has also studied at Universidad de Salamanca in Spain and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in the Republic of Ireland. His favorite book is You are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh.
