Riada talks to Chic Dambach on his prolific peacebuilding career, life's challenges & his memoir "Exhaust the Limits"

Dignified Resilience with Riada Akyol

Chic Dambach is one of the kindest, most optimistic people I've ever known. I met him serendipitously on an airport in NYC almost fifteen years ago, and we've been friends ever since. His incredibly diverse, rich career includes President of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, President of the National Peace Corps Association, and Chief of Staff for Congressman John Garamendi. Additionally, he led the Operation Respect program together with the activist icon Peter Yarrow, to transform schools, camps, and other youth organizations into safer, more respectful, and bully-free environments. He also gave classes at at Johns Hopkins University and American University. The Institute for Economics and Peace presented him the Leadership and Service for Peace Award in 2016. The Dambach Award for Service to the Literary Arts was created in his honor by the CityLit Project in Baltimore. The National Peace Corps Association has granted him the honorary title President Emeritus. Moreover, he was a national champion kayak racer and served as Chair of the US Canoe and Kayak Team and as President of the Pan American Canoe Council, and he was on the rules committee of the International Canoe Federation. He was an official for canoe and kayak competition in the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. We spoke about role of sports in Chic's life and so much more: about numerous fascinating life stories from professional life that he so candidly describes in his memoir - including the explanation of his book title, then also about the the tumultuous ’60s, the numerous sobering instances about racist practices around him that he worked on changing, about personal struggles and challenges with his third son Kai, to whom he donated a kidney to save his life (after which his wife and Kai's elementary school teacher did the same!), while he also faced financial ruin and a few other unanticipated challenges. But, with tenacity, commitment and resilience, Chic and his family pushed through those tough times. Then later on, he helped end two major wars in Africa, and created the first Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations. He got sick in the meantime too, but continues to work as much as he can while radiating such a warm energy to everyone whom he meets. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Book Cover art by Matt Wuerker. Website for more info and book purchase: https://exhaustthelimits.org/bio/