126: Jürgen Griesbeck - His Path Social Impact Through Football (Soccer)

<p><strong>Guest Overview</strong></p><p>As a football fan since a boy and a believer that sport and football have the power to create social impact, I am so privileged to have the opportunity to interview this week's guest Jürgen Griesbeck. Co-Founder of the game-changing organization Common Goal.&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you Ben Miller for the connection.</p><p>In Part One we cover Jurgen’s early path to purpose.&nbsp;</p><p>German-born, Jurgen’s journey began in the Black Forest. Growing up in Stuttgart with a mother who worked as a lawyer's assistant and a football-playing hospital administrator father Jurgen’s childhood provided little evidence that a life of social impact lay ahead.&nbsp;</p><p>Studying sports science, travels through Mexico and Costa Rica, developing a love of Latin America and meeting his now wife all contributed to him taking a scholarship in Medellin Colombia three months after the death of drug cartel leader Carlos Escobar.&nbsp;</p><p>In this dangerous and unpredictable environment, Jurgen witnessed first hand how football had the power to create unity when he saw two rival gangs set aside their weapons and participate in a football match.&nbsp;</p><p>In this serendipitous moment, his idea for Football for Peace was born. Engaging the gang leaders he designed a novel accessible approach to football match rules that helped players develop conflict resolution skills, empathy, respect for women, and collective responsibility.&nbsp;</p><p>The transformative impact in the city led to him being invited back to replicate the model to help address extremism in unified Germany and create Street Football for Tolerance.</p><p>Soon he recognized the need and the opportunity to create a platform where resources and experiences could be shared. His Street Football World now has a presence in 135 countries, a network of social impact community organizations using football as a mechanism to address social inequity for underserved youth.&nbsp;</p><p>Jurgen ends part one discussing why the global and regional