Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s ‘Evolved Man of the Week’ profiles. Each week we will highlight an individual that embodies what it means to be an evolved man, famous and non-famous men alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the veteran diver, Nashville native, and founder of Youth Diving with a Purpose, Ken Stewart.
Stewart started diving almost 30 years ago, when “all I wanted to do was to be a recreational diver,” he says. But his passion for working with young people — he also co-founded both Youth Diving with a Purpose and the Tennessee Aquatic Project, which teaches minority youth swimming, diving, and other skills — spurred him to do more.
Mr. Ken Stewart is the 2018 Sea Hero of the Year. He has worked with such organizations such as National Stop Administration, NOAA, and the National Park Service. His goal is to bridge the gap between diving, and African-American history. Mr. Stewart hopes to locate the sunken slave ship from 1827 named the Guerrero. Youth who have attended the YDWP program are from a diverse place including the United States, Mozambique, Peru, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Here is Mr. Stewart in his own words about his program and working with youth:
“For its 2018 session, YDWP welcomed divers ages 16 to 23 from Costa Rica and Honduras as well as the United States, and established “generational learning sessions,” where adult and young divers shared in round-table discussions that went beyond maritime archaeology to “issues that are affecting them in their daily and personal lives,”
Today we honor Ken Stewart as our Evolved Man of the Week.
Evolving Man Project 