Young People, Professional Teams, Community Members and LAPD Will Marching Together
On July 24, in an annual event that celebrates the 12 pro sports teams of greater Los Angeles and Orange County coming together to use sports to drive social change, local youth, LAPD officers, community members and civic leaders, the public is encouraged to join the Alliance Unity March & Dialogue. Each year, the student-led march emphasizes what change we can make when we stand united and work together to end racial inequality. The event begins at 9am.
The unity march, which is coordinated in partnership with Brotherhood Crusade, will begin at the NW Plaza at Banc of California Stadium. A deejay will provide a festive, joyful tone as the march begins. Materials will be provided for the youth to create supportive signs to carry for their walk together. The youth-led march will begin at 10 a.m., and includes community members and LAPD officers.
“We look forward to youth again leading members of the community, the sports teams of greater Los Angeles and Orange County, and LAPD officers to show the power of teamwork in our second annual unity march,” said Renata Simril, president of the Play Equity Fund.
“The 12 pro teams have worked collaboratively to support youth in communities of color for the last two years. This event celebrates our impact thus far and seeks to inspire others to join in and we listen to how we can collectively support the futures of our youth and build pathways to lifelong well-being and success for them.”
The march begins at Banc of California Stadium, and marchers will walk through Exposition Park, pass by the California African American Museum and onto S. Figueroa Ave. Marchers will continue on S. Figueroa, turn westbound on West MLK Jr. Blvd., and head toward the stadium northbound on Hoover Ave. They will complete the march at the NW Plaza at Banc of California Stadium.
After the march, a smaller cohort of invited attendees will participate in a facilitated dialogue with team leaders and LAPD officers. These conversations include sessions focused on the young people’s experience with racism, their interactions with police and how to move forward together in a positive, constructive way based on their shared experiences. Event programming will end at 1pm.
The 12 teams that form The Alliance include the Anaheim Ducks, Angel City FC, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Chargers, L.A. Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Football Club, LA Galaxy, L.A. Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Sparks.
Last year, team leaders that met with the students following the march included Kelly Cheeseman, chief operating officer of AEG Sports; Lon Rosen, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers; A.G. Spanos, president of Business Operations of the Los Angeles Chargers; Aaron Teats, president of the Anaheim Ducks; and Benny Tran, LAFC executive vice president, Corporate Strategy & Operations. Team personnel will be available to the media.
Brotherhood Crusade is sharing in coordinating the July 24 march, and has been a partner in developing the curriculum for The Alliance Student Empowerment Program for student-athletes from four high schools and two non-profit partners.
Youth who participate in this program learn about advocacy, leadership and systemic inequalities, as well as strategies to improve their communities, according to Charisse Bremond Weaver, president and executive director of Brotherhood Crusade.
The Alliance brings awareness to the inequities that exist in communities of color, empowers youth to create change and exposes young people to career opportunities that exist in the sports industry beyond being a pro athlete.
The Play Equity Fund is dedicated to Play Equity as a social justice issue to bring the transformative power of sport and structured play to youth – regardless of their race, where they live, socioeconomic status, ability or gender.
Media are invited to park in the Gold Lot at Banc of California Stadium for The Alliance Unity March & Dialogue.
