The Seattle Sounders recently launched We Are All Sounders, an official club framework illustrating a commitment to substantive social justice reform through a focus on four arenas of change, including:
- Fighting racism
- Defending the right to play
- Standing for LGBTQ+ equality
- Protecting our planet
This stems from a year in which the world has faced many challenges. With the Seattle community not immune to these uncomfortable truths, the Sounders organization has spent time discussing issues like systemic racism, inequality, and social justice and has been galvanized to act and use their platform as a way to help drive toward and bring change.
𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
This is our promise to you. Today we are proud to announce our official club social justice framework that is set to guide organizational action now and in the future.
MORE ➡️ https://t.co/Yp6Jceb88K pic.twitter.com/S14HHGKduR
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 25, 2020
Short-term action items
Aside from the four core areas of focus, the Sounders are taking additional actionable steps in the short-term, including action around voting, the U.S. Census, and work with their charitable arm, RAVE Foundation.
The team has partnered with external local and statewide organizations to educate residents about voter registration and voting procedures and have launched a dedicated landing page for fans to complete their census, as well as sign up for election reminders.
The Sounders also partnered with local artist, activist, Microsoft employee, and fan, Teddy Phillips, to create special Vote/Vota shirts with all proceeds going to RAVE Foundation Community Youth Relief Fund, a vein of the club’s larger COVID-19 relief efforts that is set aside to specifically support youth in marginalized communities with their basic needs during the current health crisis.
In addition to voter and census action, the Sounders will also focus their immediate attention on helping BIPOC youth in historically marginalized communities fight racism and defend their right to play via their RAVE Foundation.
In the coming months the foundation will open four new mini pitches in BIPOC communities who have fewer safe places to play thanks to generational effects of racism. The hope is the fields help remove barriers for participation by allowing kids to play freely and be stakeholders in their local communities.
For more information on We Are All Sounders please visit the Sounders website for additional detail.
Categories: Major League Soccer