Sounders FC centered the club’s celebration of Black History Month around our social justice promises from last summer, using our platform to elevate individuals and experts, convening organizations to achieve change, and centering our efforts on youth in historically marginalized communities.
Last month, the club supported local Black-owned businesses, disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We also amplified the voices of Black professional athletes from our hometown teams, using their inspiration to encourage physical activity and access to play through equipment giveaways in several Seattle Housing Authority communities.
Sounders FC Black History Month InTENtional List
Sounders FC kicked off Black History Month celebration with the introduction of the Sounders FC Black History Month InTENtional List, an effort to promote and support local Black-owned businesses. For this month-long effort, SFC teamed up with Intentionalist, an online guide to intentional spending that makes it easy to find and support small businesses and diverse local communities.
Throughout February, we highlighted 10 Black-owned restaurants throughout the Puget Sound region, giving the community a chance to get to know the diverse people and stories behind each business and its owners. Each Friday, two establishments were featured, along with a special Sounders FC x Intentionalist deal. The club provided a $250 tab at each restaurant, allowing customers placing orders to receive the highlighted item for free by mentioning Sounders FC and Intentionalist.
At one featured restaurant, the Sounders FC x Intentionalist tab drove an increase in sales of 51.5%, with the average order value of 13.6%, compared to the previous Friday.
Black History Month x National Women and Girls in Sports Day
Steve Zakuani, former Sounder and current member of our broadcast team, hosted a special interview with OL Reign forward Jasmyne Spencer as part of Black History Month and Women and Girls in Sports Day. The interview highlights what Black History Month means to Spencer and discusses her inspiration and how she hopes to inspire the next generation as a Black, female professional athlete.
“Be Inspired” Collaboration
Together with RAVE Foundation, SFC collaborated with OL Reign and the Seattle Storm on a video, under the theme “Be Inspired!”, that was incorporated into Seattle Housing Authority’s Black History Month programming. In “Be Inspired!”, Steve Zakuani, Jasmyne Spencer, and Jewell Loyd discuss their inspirations and what Black History Month means to them. “Be Inspired!” aired as part of SHA’s Black History Month virtual programming, reaching and engaging thousands of youth in their communities.
The video and SHA programming culminated in a multi-sport equipment giveaway for youth as a way to continue to inspire through personal activity and play. Equipment for the giveaway was provided in collaboration with Good Sports and MLS WORKS, including soccer balls, basketballs and other training equipment for 150 youth in Yesler Terrace, NewHolly and High Point – three SHA communities.
