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HARRISON, NJ (April 3, 2023) – NJ/NY Gotham FC announced today its commitment to join seven other professional soccer clubs in North America in partnering with the global nonprofit organization Common Goal and participating in “Play Proud” – an LGBTQ+ and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion educational program.
For Gotham FC, the partnership represents an investment in the club’s ongoing DEI efforts and an opportunity to further connect with its own communities. Gotham FC Partnership Marketing Manager Corinne Counsell will be joined by Melissa Correa from the club’s official supporters’ group, Cloud 9, and by Danielle King, the Social Work Program Manager from South Bronx United – a youth development organization that enriches its community by combining soccer with academics, college prep, mentoring, immigration legal services, and other youth and family supports – for two week-long training sessions. The first training session takes place this week in Seattle, and is hosted by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. Among the other clubs participating are the Kansas City Current of the NWSL, and teams from MLS, the United Soccer League and the Canadian Premier League.
Play Proud will provide participating clubs and organizations with training, resources, and support to help them enhance inclusive policies and practices within their organizations. Play Proud offers a holistic and collective approach to creating inclusive soccer communities with a focus on under-resourced and marginalized populations.
Throughout the 2023 season, Gotham FC will collaborate with South Bronx United and Cloud 9 on inclusive activations, including Pride Night, which takes place on Sunday, June 4 when the club hosts San Diego Wave FC at Red Bull Arena.
“Gotham FC is committed to building authentic connections with all fans,” said Nan Vogel, Gotham FC Acting President. “Common Goal’s initiative is one of the most comprehensive programs across North America, and we are proud to be involved in ‘Play Proud’ with other like-minded clubs across the soccer landscape. Our participation in the training sessions is a reflection of Gotham FC’s commitment to continuing to grow and learn as a team, and our dedication to ensuring that all of our platforms are representative of the culture of our club.”
The Play Proud program is part of Common Goal's wider efforts to use soccer as a tool for social change. To discover more about opportunities to become part of Play Proud, or how to join other Common Goal collective projects around themes such as racial justice, gender equity, climate action, and mental health, visit common-goal.org.
“Partnering with Gotham FC is a true example of how clubs, fans, brands, and youth-centered programming can collaboratively commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion in a tangible way that leads to inclusion throughout the soccer ecosystem in the club’s home community,” said Lilli Barrett-O’Keefe, Executive Director of Common Goal USA and Founder of Play Proud.
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