CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Contact

News

Home » How play provides community, connection
GAC22 Monday

How play provides community, connection

A red rubber ball changed Kevin Carroll’s life.

February 28, 2022
Ron Jooss
No Comments
Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll explains how a red rubber ball saved his life. (Photo by EPNAC.com)

Kevin Carroll endured a difficult start to his childhood. Monday at the 2022 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference, he shared that story and how, with inspiration found through a red rubber ball, he turned his life around.

Abandoned by his parents, who were haunted by drug addiction, Carroll and his two siblings found themselves alone in a trailer park in Virginia hundreds of miles from their home in Philadelphia when Carroll was just 6 years old.

Through the assistance of a stranger, they boarded a bus back to Philadelphia where their grandparents took them in. 

When they arrived in Philadelphia, the first thing young Carroll did was find a park to work off his pent-up frustration. He found a red ball—the inflatable rubber kind that virtually every kid who played kickball or dodgeball growing up is familiar with.

He repeatedly kicked the ball into the air in anger, screaming to no one in particular, “Why me?” or “What’s going to happen to us?” and similar unanswerable questions.

Soon, unbeknownst to Carroll, a group of kids had gathered. One of them asked, “Hey kid, you want to play with us?” 

“That question provided me with five hours of belonging, five hours of community, and five hours of connection,” Carroll says. “Isn’t that what all us need? Isn’t that what we’re all yearning for?"

Carroll took the red ball home that day, and it set in motion a series of events that changed his life. 

‘Don’t talk about it, be about it.’
Kevin Carroll

Among his mentors was Mrs. Lane, the mother of one of his friends. Mrs. Lane taught him the importance of the words “Why not?” or believing in your dreams, ideas, and aspirations.  

“She’d always follow that up with, ‘Don’t talk about it, be about it, Kevin. There’s lots of talkers and few doers. Which one are you?’” 

Carroll was doer. He served in the U.S. Air Force, where he became a language interpreter and translator, fluent in five languages.  

After serving in the Air Force for 10 years, he landed a job as a trainer for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. His unique approach to training caught the attention of Nike, which created a job specifically for him as a change agent called Chief Katalyst (the K is for Kevin).  

After seven years, Carroll started his own company to share the power of play with others around the world.  

Credit unions resonate with Carroll’s worldview. He’s been a credit union member since 1980, and two Paycheck Protection Program loans helped him navigate the financial uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But most importantly, credit unions are about more than dollars and cents, he says. “Humanity will always be the most important thing for credit unions.”

►Visit CUNA News for more conference coverage. Get live updates on Twitter via @CUNA_News, @cumagazine, @cuna, and #CUNAGAC. Follow the conference on Facebook and Instagram and visit cuna.org/gac for more information.

KEYWORDS CUNA GAC Kevin Carroll

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Spring 2022

Spring 2022

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2022 edition profiles four Credit Union Heroes and examines CUNA's advocacy priorities, the advocacy army, and financial well-being for all.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • House passes CUNA-backed fair hiring bill

  • House committee to mark up field of membership modernization bill

  • Final flood Q&As reflect CUNA-sought clarifications

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

Are you ready for CECL?

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2022 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us