Amid the current times in the United States, sports teams based in the city of Los Angeles are uniting to create positive change for communities of color.

On July 14, it was announced that 11 of the professional sports teams in the city have joined together to launch THE ALLIANCE: Los Angeles, a comprehensive five-year commitment to drive investment and impact for social justice through sport.

The teams will look to address racial injustice, develop educational opportunities, and support other important issues facing Black communities, and other communities of color. Furthermore, they’ll advocate for social justice, address disparities and take others actions toward helping end racial inequality. 

The 11 LA-based teams participating in the alliance are the LA Clippers and LA Lakers of the NBA; the LA Chargers and LA Rams of the NFL, the Anaheim Ducks and LA Kings of the NHL; the LA Angeles Angels and LA Dodgers of the MLB; the LA Football Club and LA Galaxy of MLS; and the LA Sparks of the WNBA.

“All 11 teams are united in their dedication to this effort and recognize driving change is a long-term commitment. Through sports and social programming, we aim to work in communities to affect structural changes on levels that have a lasting impact,” a spokesperson for The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles said in a press release. 

This commitment will be an expansion of the several other community efforts and charitable activities the teams are already involved with outside the field of play.  

The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles is partnering with the Play Equity Fund, a public charity established in LA to drive social change across communities through sport. It is also the only nonprofit in the world dedicated to Play Equity as a social justice issue, looking to bring sport and structured play to youth regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or gender.

“The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles is an unprecedented collaboration by sports organizations recognizing the impact they can have by working together, and they should be commended for seeking to make significant changes in communities of color,” Renata Simril, President of the Play Equity Fund, said in a press release.

The new alliance will establish the world of sport as a real driver of social change, as one of the most successful industries in the world. It could also become a catalyst for other cities across the nation to follow that model to invest and make positive change in the Black communities of their cities, as well. 

On July 22, The ALLIANCE: Los Angeles and the Play Equity Fund will hold a Sports for Social Justice Symposium, as part of National Youth Sports Week - held from July 20-24 - a webinar, which will include leaders from the sports organizations, as well as social justice leaders and sports commentators.