For Brooke DeAmaral, Special Olympics Coordinator with Wilmington Parks & Recreation, the power of belonging is at the heart of everything she does.
Creating Opportunities Through Sports
As the coordinator of the City's Special Olympics program, Brooke's days are anything but routine. One day may involve preparing for a large-scale event serving more than 1,000 athletes. Another may be spent coordinating weekly sports programs, which can include seven or eight different activities during a season. During water sports programs, she may even be out on the water helping athletes catch waves. "A great part of this job is that we get to do so many amazing different things each day," Brooke said.
A Lifelong Connection to Special Olympics
Brooke's connection to Special Olympics began long before she joined the City. Her sister, who has an intellectual disability, joined Special Olympics at age 8. Brooke initially became involved as a Unified Partner, participating alongside her sister. Over time, that involvement grew into volunteering and coaching multiple sports in Kansas. After moving to North Carolina, she continued coaching and volunteering before accepting the Special Olympics Coordinator position in 2019.
Celebrating Athlete Success
After years of working with Special Olympics athletes, Brooke says there is no shortage of memorable moments. One recent experience stands out. During a swim invitational, Brooke and her team brought 24 athletes to compete, including several young swimmers who were new to the program. The athletes exceeded expectations, but what made the moment especially meaningful was seeing the excitement on their faces and the reactions of their families. For Brooke, those moments represent much more than athletic achievement. They are opportunities for athletes to discover new possibilities, build friendships and gain confidence. Each day, she sees athletes accomplish things they may have once believed were beyond their reach.
Adapting Sports for Everyone
One of the things Brooke enjoys most about serving the Wilmington community is finding ways to make sports accessible to everyone. Whether modifying activities, adjusting equipment or creating new approaches, she values the ability to meet athletes where they are and help them participate successfully. "We are able to adapt most anything to include everyone, and that is always great to see," she said.
The Power of Belonging
When asked about this year's Parks & Recreation Month theme, Brooke said belonging is one of the core values that makes Special Olympics so impactful. "Special Olympics is all about inclusion, adaptation and belonging," she said. "It's about helping each athlete, volunteer and parent have an amazing community to participate in and make lifelong connections." Through sports, friendships and shared experiences, the program creates opportunities for athletes and families to feel supported, valued and connected. For Brooke, that's what the power of belonging is all about.
Thank you, Brooke, for your dedication to creating inclusive opportunities and helping Special Olympics athletes build confidence, friendships and lifelong connections through Parks & Recreation.