Unique Experiences

Item Description

This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a must for anyone passionate about the state of education in our nation or any Harvard basketball junkie! Enjoy lunch with Arne Duncan '87, former Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, in either Washington, D.C. or Chicago.

*Date and location (Washington, D.C. or Chicago) to be mutually agreed upon*
*Lunch expense, transportation, and lodging is NOT included*
*Winning bidder is responsible for the lunch expense in addition to the winning bid.*

Duncan's twin career passions are education and basketball. At Harvard, he was co-captain of the basketball team, a first team Academic All-American, and 1,000-point scorer. From there, he went on to play professional basketball from 1987 to 1991 in Australia, where he also tutored children who were wards of the state. In subsequent years, he has been the MVP of the 2014 NBA Celebrity All-Star Basketball game and a member of the 3-on-3 national champions Hoop it Up team.

Duncan currently serves as managing partner at Emerson Collective, returning to Chicago on a mission to improve the lives of young adults in his hometown. Through partnerships with local business leaders, community organizers, and nonprofit groups, Duncan aims to create job and life opportunities for disconnected youth between the ages of 17 and 24. Emerson Collective is dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity so people can live to their full potential, and centers its work on education, immigration reform, the environment and other social justice initiatives.

Duncan recently published a book entitled "How Schools Work: An Inside Account of Failure and Success from One of the Nation's Longest-Serving Secretaries of Education."

Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Education, Duncan served as the chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for eight years. Before taking the CEO helm at CPS, Duncan ran the nonprofit education foundation Ariel Education Initiative from 1992 to 1998, which helped fund a college education for a class of inner-city children under the “I Have A Dream” program.

Duncan serves on the boards of: Ariel Capital Management, Aspen Institute, Communities in Schools, Lucas Museum, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, National Association of Basketball Coaches, Pluralsight, Revolution Foods, Thrive-Chicago and Turn It In. He also serves as Co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

Item Special Note

*Date and location (Washington, D.C. or Chicago) to be mutually agreed upon.*

*Lunch expense, transportation, and lodging is NOT included.*

*Winning bidder is responsible for the lunch expense in addition to the winning bid.*