Earl Edwards Jr.
Reflection by Earl Edwards Jr.
In 2020 the world was in a state of reconciliation, and people were invigorated to address racism head on. In 2021 I noticed less social media posts in support of black lives, I saw athletes begin to stand for the anthem again, less marches, less protests and less conversations regarding racism. We all knew that would be the case. The height of the movement in 2020 was impossible to sustain. Anticipating its decline, it was important for us as an organization to contemplate how we would sustain our impact for years to come.
Along with executing initiatives independently, we knew in 2021 that it would be important to work with like-minded organizations to fight for social justice. We were able to strengthen our partnerships with previous partners like the Players Coalition, and US Soccer Foundation, and establish new partnerships that will further expand our impact. In 2021 we cemented our foundation, and I look forward to seeing what 2022 has in store.
