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IN THIS EDITION Coalition Updates | Around the Horn - Updates from our Members |
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Thinking About Systems Change We partnered with Ashoka to bring funders and coalition leaders together this summer to think about what systems change is in their own work. This Action Team focuses on building collective leadership and shared language around systems change while centering community-driven solutions and amplifying the voices of those most impacted by sports equity gaps
Big Policy Moves for Youth Sports Across the country, coalitions are working hard to advocate for kids who need sports access most. Some examples include: A new bill, AB749 led by the Play Equity Fund, is making progress in California that would study the current landscape of youth sports and make recommendations for establishing a centralized entity to ensure fair access to quality sports programs for all youth. Philadelphia formalized investments from city and state governments for youth sports providers. New York City to ensure that mobile betting tax revenue be equitably allocated to youth sports programs and capital projects (Senate Bill S5640A and Assembly Bill A8167).
Research Results Coming Soon We studied how our 14 coalitions and 700+ member organizations work with their members, partners, funders, and other stakeholders, and we're excited to share those findings very soon. This research will help us understand better about how to build sport equity coalitions and shift power. |
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What some of our members were up to last quarter! |
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| Sport for Good New Orleans hosted a Townhall to unveil and review the draft Sport for Good Schools Playbook - a bold, community-driven model designed to expand access to sport for young people through transformative partnerships. This will be a chance to shape how the community grows opportunity, equity, and impact across the city through sports and schools. |
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| Continuing to build on the Girls in Sports effort, Lawrence Sports Alliance is collaborating with the Connecticut Suns to host an event on Aug 26th to celebrate Women’s Equality Day. Additionally, LSA partnered this summer to launch a USTA sponsored Tennis in the Parks program, a new Red Sox RBI Baseball and Softball league, and a volleyball camp, connecting hundreds of youth in the city to high quality activities. LSA has also launched a scholarship fund to support Lawrence athletes to attend local and national tournaments and college showcase events, creating equitable opportunities for student to shine and thrive. |
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| Q2 was a busy and exciting time for Project Play Southeast Michigan! In April, they hosted Unite to Ignite, a regional convening focused on collaboration and community. In May, they kicked off the three-part Beyond the Game: Coaches Development Workshop series. Then, on June 21, they wrapped up the quarter with their annual Title IX event, Girls That Play Lead the Way - a Girls in Sports Sampling Day celebrating and empowering young female athletes. |
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| Kansas City Community Conversations on Youth Sports, scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, marks a major milestone for the region. This event is co-hosted by the Sports Sector of the Kansas City Physical Activity Plan (KCPA Plan), Children’s Mercy, and Aspen Institute Project Play. It will bring together community leaders, coaches, nonprofit staff, parents, educators, and others to align efforts, share solutions, and accelerate momentum around play equity and youth sports access. |
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Play for Dignity Hosted the Toronto Region Sport Equity Forum, where community sport leaders came together to explore collective solutions - and begin shaping a regional Hub rooted in equity, trust, and action. Highlights included hearing from keynote speakers Sabrina Razack, PhD of Centre for Sport and Human Rights and Fernando Ramirez of Play Equity Fund who reminded us that collaboration isn’t enough on its own - it requires structures that shift power, align goals, and are built to last. |
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Sport for Good NYC spent the Winter and Spring leading an advocacy campaign supporting bills that equitably allocate mobile betting tax revenue to youth sports programs and capital projects (Senate Bill S5640A and Assembly Bill A8167). This included coalition-wide outreach efforts to local elected officials and key committee members, a lobby Day in Albany in May, and social media activation and direct engagement with policymakers. Despite the bill not passing, Laureus and Sport for Good NYC will continue building momentum through coalition events and New York State Caucus visibility to gain more co-sponsors before the next legislative session. |
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PCA San Francisco was hard at work developing their Youth Sport Equity Agenda last quarter! In this plan, the focus is on key play equity gaps, including: local community coaches, coordinated safe passage (transportation), and increasing family buy-in /engagement with first generation youth and families from many cultures. |
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Central Ohio Youth Sports Collaborative co-hosted a coach training in partnership with the YMCA of Central Ohio and is working through their first strategic planning process this summer. |
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| Oklahoma City was recently announced as the host to Olympic softball and canoe slalom events! The coalition is now strategizing how to leverage the announcement and the upcoming games to inspire our community and leave a legacy to increase access to youth sports. |
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| PYSC continues to lead efforts focused on youth safety and community well-being. This quarter, as part of the city’s violence prevention strategy supported by the Office of Public Safety, PYSC convened coaches from across Philadelphia for a Youth Football and Cheer Coaches Conference. PYSC also now serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Police Department’s Office of Gang Violence Reduction as it implements Summer Night Lights programming at two recreation centers this summer. |
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| Play Equity Fund is leading the advocacy effort for AB 749 – Youth Sports for All. This bill requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish a Blue-Ribbon Commission to examine the current landscape of youth sports and make recommendations for establishing a centralized entity to ensure fair access to quality sports programs for all youth in California. Support the effort here! |
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| The King County Play Equity Coalition’s June all-member meeting highlighted members sharing best practices in serving refugee, immigrant, and asylum-seeking community members. They have also launched the registration for the free, week long Sports Sampling Camp - hosted in partnership with Seattle pro teams - happening end of July. Lastly, they hosted an outdoor leadership training for youth program providers. |
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Backbone support provided by the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport |
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