JUST BALLIN’
Brotherhood Crusade is levelling the playing field in South Los Angeles. “Sports can change lives, but it also teaches life skills,” says Jason Moseley, Brotherhood Crusade’s sports coordinator for over 12 years. “Commitment, resilience, teamwork and effort—those things can be taught and used outside of sports.”
For the thousands of kids they serve annually, Brotherhood Crusade is a haven for families facing systemic inequities. They are also one of many community programs to join forces with U.S. Soccer Foundation and adidas to power Just Ball League which removes barriers, such as transportation and cost, to provide kids living in underserved communities the opportunity to play soccer right in their neighborhood. Access to the program, designed to bring out players’ unique creativity by prioritizing fun, inclusion, and belonging, is completely free. Moseley has watched hesitant kids transform into confident leaders, some returning as mentors to guide the next generation. “We’ve created a safe emotional and physical space for them to become their true, authentic selves,” he adds.
