Former Chicago White Sox player and former US Ambassador Mark Gilbert shares inspirational advice to the YPL alumni, during the Salt Lake City leg of the US Roadshow.
The power of sport was on full display throughout the country, as the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Alumni Roadshow made its way across the United States.
Excitement is building as the US enjoys a “mega decade of sports” (2024-2034), where it will host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games in Salt Lake City, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cups.
As the YPL alumni arrived in Utah as part of the Roadshow, Team USA had gathered for the 2025 US Olympic and Paralympic Assembly in the host city of the 2034 Winter Games, to prepare for Los Angeles and Utah, as well as to finalize its preparations for next year’s Winter Games in Milan-Cortina 2026.
The universal language of sport
Sport is a universal language, and both connects and inspires people, which the alumni were reminded of ahead of meeting various stakeholders, including City Manager for West Valley City Ifo Pili, in efforts to bolster US-Pacific partnerships.
Born and raised in American Samoa, Ifo earned a football scholarship Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, and later went onto play professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for several teams including the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots.
Ifo says he is not alone in having relocated to the US for better sporting opportunities.
“I moved to Utah during my last years of high school and attended BYU, before starting my career in government,” Ifo says.
Prior to his current role, Ifo served as the City Manager of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and held several positions in Eagle Mountain, Utah, including City Administrator, Assistant City Administrator, and Economic Development Director.
“I also am an adjunct Professor in the Master of Public Administration Program at BYU, where I teach local government management,” Ifo explains.
Ifo Pili chats to the YPL alumni about his life in sports and local government.
In his role as City Manager, Ifo draws on his American Samoan heritage to connect with many of the residents in West Valley.
“West Valley City has the highest concentration of Polynesians in the United States outside of Hawai’i — more than anywhere except Honolulu,” Ifo says.
“It’s very important to maintain that connection – as a Pacific Islander, it’s natural — these are my people, my circles, my culture.
“Even beyond that, for the City Government, connecting with the Pacific Islander community is crucial because they’re such an integral part of our economy, our schools, and our workforce.
“As a city, it’s been a high priority to maintain strong relationships with our Pacific Islander community.”
The Pacific community in West Valley has its roots in the islands, and that connection is also vital to maintain – not only for cultural and personal reasons but also for the economy, he adds.
“We’ve talked about creating mutually beneficial programs and relationships that connect the Pacific and the US; it is a relationship we should continue to nurture and grow.”
Hitting a homerun with YPL
While in Salt Lake City, the YPL alumni were fortunate to connect with former Chicago White Sox Major League baseballer and US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from 2015 to 2017, Mark Gilbert and his wife Nancy.
Ambassador Gilbert has been a longtime advocate of the US Government’s YPL program, which started two years before he took up his post in Aotearoa.
“The US Government has created several programs to build relationships with leaders around the world — government officials, business leaders, and, importantly, young professionals,” Ambassador Gilbert says.
“For the South Pacific, it’s particularly critical.
“Many of these nations are young, and these participants are the future leaders who will take their countries forward.
“Programs like this expose them to new ideas and opportunities they might not otherwise experience — lessons they can bring home to help their countries grow – I can’t think of anything more important.”
The Ambassador says the networking and collaboration element of the YPL program is a vital part of a person’s leadership journey.
“Partnerships are far more powerful than trying to do something on your own,” he says.
“Building relationships isn’t a one-time thing — these connections can benefit these young adults throughout their lives and careers.
“We’ve seen in other programs how these networks continue to thrive, with participants still collaborating years later.”
Boasting a highly successful professional sporting and diplomatic career, Ambassador Gilbert offered some wise words to the YPL alumni as they embark on their next chapter.
“Be intellectually curious, ask questions, build relationships – that’s how your countries will thrive.
“If you can inspire stakeholders here in the United States to believe in your nations and your goals, you can achieve so much more together than you ever could alone.
“Partnerships are powerful — they’re the key to progress.”
For both Ifo and Ambassador Gilbert, sport has been a catalyst to serving their communities – whether it be from the heart of their neighbourhood, or from afar, representing their country in a foreign land.
Sport leads to connections, and their contribution to US sport has led to a life of connecting others, throughout the United States and Pacific.
Visit the Young Pacific Leaders website for more details on the US Department of State program.
