Eleven Los Angeles-area professional sports franchises have announced a five-year collaboration aimed at promoting social justice and ending racial inequality.
Joining “The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles” were the Ducks, Angels, Chargers, Clippers, Dodgers, Los Angeles Football Club, Galaxy, Kings, Lakers, Rams and Sparks.
The alliance will partner with the nonprofit Play Equity Fund in the Los Angeles area, supporting its effort to promote social equity by sponsoring sports and “structured play” for youth regardless of race, economic status or gender.
In Orange County, the alliance will support and collaborate with Accelerate Change Together, which was formed in 2013 by the Ducks, Angeles and Disneyland Resort to address the needs of at-risk youth and families in the Anaheim area.
“The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles has been forged specifically to create positive change in underserved communities, with an emphasis on Black communities,” according to a statement from the organization. “All 11 teams are united in their dedication to this effort and recognize driving change is a long-term commitment. Through sports and social programming, we aim to work in communities to affect structural changes on levels that have a lasting impact.”
Officials said the alliance will work to address issues that can serve as a barrier to at-risk youth competing in organized sports, such as budget cuts to after-school programs, lack of safe transportation to playgrounds, shortages of trained coaches and rising costs of athletic programs.
“The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles is an unprecedented collaboration by sports organizations recognizing the impact they can have by working together, and they should be commended for seeking to make significant changes in communities of color,” said Renata Simril, president of the Play Equity Fund. “The Los Angeles region is one of the world’s most competitive markets, and sports is one of the world’s most competitive industries.”
