A 'Green' Role Model and Advocate: Ovie Mughelli's Story

A bright light pierces the blinds of your bedroom window and shines into your eyelids. As you turn over to avoid the light, your eyes crack open ever so slightly, and you notice the room is lit up. Your limbs extend to their full length as a smile appears upon your face. Once outside, your eyelids close, your chest expands, filling with oxygen, nitrogen and other elements that make up the air as your mouth opens to take a deep breath.  The first days of spring is upon us and the beauty of the Earth has sprung out for the world’s people to enjoy. This beauty is something that many people take for granted or in some cases don't ever notice.  But for Atlanta Falcons Fullback, 2010 Pro Bowler, and Smart Guy Ovie Mughelli, the planet in which he lives to means the world to him.

Mughelli has created The Ovie Mughelli Foundation, an organization designed to teach youth about 'Going Green'. The importance of saving the planet is something that Mughelli feels strongly about and would like others to realize. The Ovie Mughelli Foundation is a 501(c) 3 federal tax-exempt organization that supports the overall development of youth socially, mentally and physically by implementing and assisting quality programs that educate the youth on the environment. We want to empower the youth to take ownership and pride about their lives and the roles that they play in society. The Foundation puts on various football camps/clinics and community events, with the goal of spreading the message about the importance of 'Going Green' and how youth can be apart of the solution and not apart of the problem.

“I feel that our urban and/or under-serviced youth really do not care about the environment today,” says Mughelli. “It is understandable because they have so many other things that they have to deal with--hunger, poverty, violence. However, that being said, you still can not completely ignore the environment.”  Mughelli notes that the people that care the least about the environment tend to be the people that are affected most by the environment. The landfills and refineries are usually built in poor neighborhoods, and it makes their air and water quality lesser than the wealthy neighborhoods.

“I let the African American kids that I often speak to know that it is not a white issue, a rich issue, or someone else’s problem," Mughelli states, " I let them know that it is their problem. I tend to use football, athletics, or something fun to engage them and make 'Going Green' a lot more appealing. I let them know that they can 'make green' by 'Going Green". I teach them about green jobs, and about saving and making money. These green jobs include making organic clothing lines, running a recycling company and even making bamboo utensils. There are all types of things that they can do to help the planet as well as themselves.”  

Mughelli acknowledges that playing in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons has put him in a position where he can share his knowledge of saving the planet to a wide audience. He also recognizes that getting to where he is now, being a community leader and a professional athlete, was not an easy task. It took a lot of hard work and overcoming of obstacles and barriers that could have derailed his journey.

“Playing football for a living was always a dream for me,” Mughelli said. “I didn’t always think that I could do it, but it was definitely what I wanted to do. I didn’t know it would be a reality for me until the last second. I am confident but I try to be realistic as well. The chances and odds of making it to the NFL are very slim. I never really wanted to get my hopes up. I just wanted to work as hard as I could and see what happened.”

Working hard is something that Ovie had grown accustomed to over the years. From the football field to the classroom, Ovie worked tirelessly to become the best student and athlete.  Ovie attended Porter-Gaud High school a predominately white middle and high school which was a challenge to him because he felt alone, there were not any people there that looked like him. However, instead of harping on the negative, Mughelli decided to look at it as a blessing. It provided him with the chance to be around people who were different from him, and show them a positive example of an African American, an opportunity to refute stereotypes and assumptions. Ovie, in many instances, was the only African American person that some of his classmates knew.

“That was definitely a learning experience,” said Mughelli. “It was something that I am glad that I went through because it taught me how to deal and mesh with different people on all levels. The school itself was challenging because of the intense work load as far as tests, papers to write, and homework.  But I am glad I learned how to manage that in high school because it only got harder in college. Being a student-athlete in high school taught me how to balance my workload, a skill that I still utilize today. ”

While facing many challenging decisions during his life, Ovie considers his decision to stay actively involved in the church as one of the best decision he has made. Mughelli grew up in church and knows that everything that he has accomplished is a direct blessing from God. Even as a Pro Bowl Fullback for the NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons Mughelli remains humble and gives God the honor and praise for using him as an inspiration to others. 

Although he loves playing the sport of football, and even though he is a great football player, Ovie never relied solely on making it to the NFL. He concentrated in the classroom just as hard as he focused on the football field. That is something he feels all Smart Guys do. Mughelli earned a degree from Wake Forest University with a major in Health and Educational Science. “Smart Guys get it,” says Mughelli. “I got it at an early age; I understood the importance of a good education as the key to success. You can’t really do anything in this world if you don’t have an education.  I always valued going to school and tried to learn more and more everyday to better myself.”

Mughelli's advice to the youth of today is to find a mentor, become an advocate of asking questions, and be prepared to accept challenges. “I am smart enough to know when I don’t know.” says Mughelli. "Get in touch with someone who has been or is where you want to be.  Ask that person questions about their past and how they got to where they are now. That will allow you to have an easier, more direct path to reaching your goals. Life is not going to be easy, so take a step back at times and breathe. No one who is at the top of their game gets there by accident; you have to fight for everything that you want.”  

A 'Green' Smart Guy,

Ovie

Mughelli prides himself on giving back to the community and donates his time, energy and efforts to ensuring that people see and respect the world for the beautiful place that it is.  To learn more about the Ovie Mughelli Foundation go to www.oviemughellifoundation.org  For additional information about Ovie, contact Bridgett Coates at Exposure BBC .