How Dueling Dragons of Orlando inspired the Chicago Dragon Boating Community

Our team had a wonderful trip to the Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival recently, where we not only competed -- we made some incredible friends!

Special thanks to The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and The Chicago Tour Company for the photos!

What's wonderful about this sport and the unique partnership we've helped form between inner-city teens and law enforcement officers from the Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Orlando Fire Department is that it's not just our local community that is positively impacted: the mission goes far beyond.

Dueling Dragons' mission is to use the sport of dragon boating to form long-term mentoring relationships between Orlando's law enforcement officers and inner-city youth. Success in dragon boating comes only when everyone in the boat works together in complete harmony. In the process, stereotypes come down, profiles melt away, friendships are formed, and lives change for the better.

And that was clear in Chicago, where we learned how *our* work is inspiring the Chicago community, too.

Special thanks to Visual Florida for these wonderful videos.