In partnership with Boeing, the Seattle Sounders established “Change Champions,” an initiative that highlights local organizations and the impact they have in their communities.
Prior to the August 29 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the club honored the King County Play Equity Coalition, a network of about 140 organizations focused on making sure that every kid has the opportunity to play, regardless of their zip code, gender, race, creed, or color.
"As a longtime member of the King County Play Equity Coalition, we are proud to further highlight and uplift the group's work to advance youth development through Boeing Change Champions,” said RAVE Foundation Associate Executive Director Midori Hobbs. “Together, we're working toward a more equitable Washington state where all youth have access to play and its transformative benefits."
Through the advancement of play equity, the non-profit is looking at the intersections of people’s identity that prevent them from being able to access sports, play, and movement. With that in mind, a lot of their events and who they serve and bring into the coalition is targeted at those that are the most underserved within their communities.
“That's why we have a girls' play day. That's why we have our space in sports, since girls are less likely to be participating in sports than boys, but that also includes trans youth, non-binary youth, youth with disabilities, our refugee and immigrant youth, our youth of color,” said King County Play Equity Coalition Executive Director Tracy Myers. “We are focused and centered on those that are furthest away from play equity.”
In the coalition’s 2019 state of play report, it dives into the biggest disparities of those who lack access to physical activity. Not every school provides physical education at a level that is truly supportive of all kids. Not every sports program has the ability to work with youth with disabilities. The majority of sports programming is conducted in English and not provided in other languages.
Within South King County alone, there's even less infrastructure for sports and activities. Combined with the deficiency of transportation, only 23% of youth in King County meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
“How do I get to a gym or field or somewhere that I can play? And also, when I get to that field or gym, is it actually going to be open for me to actually go and just play, or has somebody rented it out and now I have to go try to find somewhere else?” said Director of Development Tanishia Norman. “The safety of these places [too]....You may get there and it's open, but is it maintained and is it safe? That's also a really big barrier that we see with kids and families just wanting to go to these spaces and having an opportunity to play.”
With the help of the coalition and its action teams that come together monthly to discuss different findings and strategies moving forward, these types of blockages are top of mind. Whether it be their push to pass the recess bill, which ensures Washington state kindergarten through fifth graders are able to get a minimum of 30 minutes of recess per day, or their many events like “Play Day” that introduces kids to a variety of different sports, the King County Play Equity Coalition is taking the necessary steps toward supporting a healthier, more active lifestyle for every kid.
For those who want to join the movement and be a part of the solution, there are a variety of ways to join the coalition and its mission for more accessible play.
“Follow us and attend our events. Join an action team. Educate yourself by reading our reports and share that with those that you have access to that are decision makers,” said Myers. “And then you can also advocate with us on Youth Sports Day, which is March 11th next year in Olympia. And then another big one is donating to support our work.”
