Seattle Rain FC highlights climate and inclusion work through Football for the Goals partnership
February 14, 2025 | United Nations, Federal
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Steph, community engagement and social impact manager for Seattle Rain FC, said the club has been part of Football for the Goals since 2022 and called the partnership a top priority for the team’s sustainability and inclusion efforts. "We joined Football for the Goals because 1 of our community pillars, we have 4 of them, is sustainability," Steph said in remarks.
Steph described several strands of the club’s local work: regular beach and waterway cleanups alongside Native community partners, a gender-diversity clinic produced with Sounders FC, and policy engagement with local lawmakers in Washington on issues affecting transgender youth and athletes. "Specifically, right now, we are developing a partnership with a local, Indian health board," Steph said, adding that Native partners have been central to local conservation activities.
The club’s connection to global initiatives is part of its approach, Steph said, citing the United Nations–linked Football for the Goals network and academic partnerships in Leicester that help the club develop local sustainability models. "The UN is pretty hard to top, but what I will say is this Football for the Goals is definitely 1 of our top partnerships," Steph said.
Steph also said Seattle Rain FC was recently purchased by Sounders FC and that the acquisition gives the club greater budgetary capacity to expand its programs. "We were just purchased by Sounders FC, which means that for us, now our club has the ability to have the funds and the budget to really live out the truths that we talk about here at Football for the Goals," Steph said.
On outreach and organizational practice, Steph emphasized listening to communities as central to effective climate and inclusion work: "I think the biggest lesson that I learned in wanting to make change is being a better listener than I am a talker." She said the club’s goal is to make football accessible across income levels, noting the pay-to-play model in the United States limits participation for some players.
No formal city or legislative action was recorded in the remarks. Steph described ongoing partnerships and policy conversations rather than reporting completed policy changes or enacted legislation.
Steph described several strands of the club’s local work: regular beach and waterway cleanups alongside Native community partners, a gender-diversity clinic produced with Sounders FC, and policy engagement with local lawmakers in Washington on issues affecting transgender youth and athletes. "Specifically, right now, we are developing a partnership with a local, Indian health board," Steph said, adding that Native partners have been central to local conservation activities.
The club’s connection to global initiatives is part of its approach, Steph said, citing the United Nations–linked Football for the Goals network and academic partnerships in Leicester that help the club develop local sustainability models. "The UN is pretty hard to top, but what I will say is this Football for the Goals is definitely 1 of our top partnerships," Steph said.
Steph also said Seattle Rain FC was recently purchased by Sounders FC and that the acquisition gives the club greater budgetary capacity to expand its programs. "We were just purchased by Sounders FC, which means that for us, now our club has the ability to have the funds and the budget to really live out the truths that we talk about here at Football for the Goals," Steph said.
On outreach and organizational practice, Steph emphasized listening to communities as central to effective climate and inclusion work: "I think the biggest lesson that I learned in wanting to make change is being a better listener than I am a talker." She said the club’s goal is to make football accessible across income levels, noting the pay-to-play model in the United States limits participation for some players.
No formal city or legislative action was recorded in the remarks. Steph described ongoing partnerships and policy conversations rather than reporting completed policy changes or enacted legislation.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting