In all the different aspects of our lives, one thing remains constant – we are all unique. And through social media, your personal network, and other resources, we have all developed a voice and platform that is unique to us. Anyone has the power to exercise their platform, and how you use it is up to you. Some people, such as celebrities, may inherently have a larger platform due to existing fans or followers. But no matter what your platform looks like, your voice is valuable and it is up to you to use it. This article highlights three individuals and how they use their respective platforms.
Mark Giordano
Mark Giordano is a defenseman who plays in the National Hockey League (NHL). The 37 year old has recorded 509 points in 949 career games. He has been the captain of the Calgary Flames for many years, but he took his leadership beyond the ice.
On Wednesday, July 21st, Mark Giordano was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. This will be the first time he plays for an NHL team other than Calgary, as he will join Seattle in their first ever season. Calgary will miss the 2019 Norris Trophy winner as more than just a hockey player, but also as an amazing community member, thanks to the way he utilized his platform.
As a major league athlete, Giordano has millions of fans watching him every year. He knows that his voice will travel immeasurable distances and reach countless people, so he uses this power to make a positive change.
In 2014, ‘Team Giordano’ was founded. Over the years, this program has developed connections with schools all over Calgary and provided resources for them. The program has distributed $300,000 to these schools as of 2017, and has changed the lives of thousands of students. Mark Giordano also makes regular visits to the schools to talk about fitness, leadership, academic success, and goal setting.
As a result of his incredible work, Giordano was named the 2017 ESPN Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Of The Year, an award presented to an athlete “whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a positive impact on their community through sports”. This is a global award that applies to all sports, not just hockey. This amplifies how truly outstanding Giordano’s work is, and how powerful someone’s voice can be. As the winner, Giordano directed a $100,000 grant from ESPN to his charity, Team Giordano.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is an American actor and producer who you may recognize from films such as “Titanic”, “The Wolf of Wall Street”, “Inception”, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Romeo + Juliet”, and more. As one of the world’s most famous actors, he also has a powerful platform.
In 1998, Leonardo DiCaprio decided to translate his concern for environmental issues into an avenue for positive change. By establishing the ‘Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation’, which is “dedicated to the long-term health and well-being of all Earth’s inhabitants”, he has been able to focus on wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, and addressing climate change. Over the years, the foundation has shared more than $30 million to environmental organizations on a global scale.
You
There is another person who has a platform and a voice that they can use for good – you. You may not be a major league athlete or a Hollywood star, but you have your own platform that is unique to you. Your voice is valuable to our society, and you are capable of making change. It’s time to speak up, whether on social media or in real life, because you have the power to make the world a better place.
Image Source 1
