Alliance Leadership Initiative

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles has partnered with schools in South LA to pilot The Alliance Leadership Initiative.

The Alliance Leadership Initiative uses sports as an entryway to leadership and advocacy for students. The semester-long program develops changemakers who will build community power and affect systems for which the collective of 12 professional sports teams in greater Los Angeles is focused.

As a key part of the partnership, The Alliance supported the expansion of sports and youth engagement opportunities for its partnering schools. The sports programs provide real-time benefit in terms of health outcomes and social emotional learning. Both schools serve the target communities of The Alliance and have existing sports programs that benefit from this support.

Each school site represents a different type of pilot program, which is planned to scale in the coming years. The Alliance support will augment ICEF View Park High School’s existing sports-based youth development, which is integrated into its curriculum.  

Access to organized sports during school and after school is essential to child development and building a path for their lifelong well-being. In youth, sports can bolster positive identity, resilience, boost confidence and success.

The Brotherhood Crusade and Community Coalition co-created – specifically for this initiative – the sport-based, academic advocacy-centered curriculum and will co-facilitate the leadership training .

Curriculum objectives include training participants in organizing and identifying social issues to address, facilitating students’ understanding of community conditions and the systems that perpetuate inequality, fostering an advocate mindset and the knowledge and confidence to engage with policymakers, and gaining inspiration from fellow student athletes and professional athletes.


Student athletes from both high schools learn about advocacy, leadership, and systemic inequalities that affect their communities. Students will also meet and hear from professional athletes from The Alliance organizations.

Students also have the opportunity to discover the many career opportunities available in the sports industry outside of the playing field.

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles Activation Series engages student athletes across the Greater LA region, to inspire them to be leaders on their teams, learn more about social justice, community leadership and explore the prospect of careers in the sports industry.

Working towards social justice with young people includes investment, education and sustained action. The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles is dedicated to working toward a more just future, and helping youth understand how communities value their leadership and contributions.

The Alliance programs are designed to inspire equality and well-being for systems change where the teams live, work and hold competitive events. The 12 professional sports teams of greater Los Angeles are acting on issues of structural racism, have united as allies for communities of color and are building new opportunities to address disparities.

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The ALLIANCE: Project Blue Youth Leadership Council

The ALLIANCE: Project Blue Youth Leadership Council

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ALLIANCE: Los Angeles x Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp

Watching the Los Angeles Chargers training camp from the Chairmen’s Tent, students from The Alliance Student Empowerment program met with Chargers players and heard from longtime team staff about their career journeys in sports. Thanks to the #Chargers for the opportunity! #BoltUp ⚡

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Alliance X Galaxy Match Day

Careers in sports stretch beyond the field. Our students experienced that first-hand Dignity Health Sports Park. After a career panel, students shadowed staff on match day as the Los Angeles Galaxy brought everything together for their fans. Thank you Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation for an amazing experience!

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The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles Student Empowerment Program Visits the LA Kings Training Facility

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles teams are showing local students that careers in sports are in reach. The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles’ Student Empowerment Program visited the Toyota Sports Performance Center to see the LA King’s training facility.

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ALLIANCE: Los Angeles’ Student Empowerment Program Visits NASCAR and FOX Sports to Learn About Future Careers

High school students from the ALLIANCE: Los Angeles’ Student Empowerment Program visited the Coliseum ahead of NASCAR’s first Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. The students toured the racetrack, visited the FOX Sports broadcast compound, and participated in a NASCAR sports career panel. The 27 students and seven chaperones were from Boss Program, ICEF View Park Preparatory Charter High School, and Project Blue.

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Off the Bench

The Alliance presents Off the Bench, which follows two South LA student-athletes as they return to school sports. This series highlights Kimorri and Jeremiah as they return to campus for rugby practice after a prolonged break due to the pandemic. They are students at one of the Alliance’s two Student Empowerment Program partner high schools.

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Dodgers’ Dave Roberts x The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles

Dave Roberts, the Manager of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers encourages local student athletes to participate in The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles’ Student Empowerment Program. The program includes guest speakers from the 11 professional sports teams that form the Alliance speaking on social justice, sports, and community building.

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Black Excellence in Sport and Action Panel

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles hosted the Black Excellence in Sport and Action panel, a discussion between professional athletes about social justice topics. Over 100 student athletes and future leaders participated in the virtual panel from over 23 middle schools and high schools in the greater Los Angeles area. Kiesha Nix, Executive Director of Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation moderated the panel discussion with professional athletes on how they excel in sport and drive social change. Guests included Blake Bolden of the LA Kings, Jordan Fuller of the LA Rams, and Rushia Brown of the LA Sparks. The event highlighted UCLA Gymnast Nia Dennis and her “Black Excellence” floor routine.

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Alliance Student Empowerment Program Launch

The Alliance Student Empowerment Program teaches student athletes skills to become the next generation of leaders and activist athletes. The semester-long program encourages students to create social change in their communities. Launched on January 25th, 2021, the pilot program is active in 2 Los Angeles area high schools. In this Q&A, principals from the two pilot high schools introduce the program. They elaborate on what the program means to them, to their students, and they outline what to expect as the Student Empowerment Program grows.

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Alliance Teen Town Hall: Gwen Berry and Johnathan Franklin

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles held its virtual Town Hall kickoff event with student athletes from View Park High School and LA Promise Charter High School. Watch Gwen Berry and Johnathan Franklin share their stories, as well as lessons learned through their involvement in sports and working in communities.

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