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February 23, 2024
Building a Legacy of Community Empowerment in Southern California
Since its inception in 1995, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) has been the official team charity of the Dodgers, one of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) most successful franchises. Committed to improving education, health care, housing security and social justice for all Angelenos, LADF leverages the power of baseball and softball to step up to the plate for Los Angeles youth. “Los Angeles is often synonymous with palm trees and bright lights,” says CEO Nichol Whiteman. “But, while we cherish this great city, LADF acknowledges the troubling statistics that place youth at risk.”
BREAKING BARRIERS
At the core of LADF’s mission lies a profound understanding of the systemic barriers hindering access to quality health resources and community support, particularly for Black and Brown youth. For Whiteman, responding to this challenge is particularly meaningful. A daughter of Jamaican immigrants, she is the first in her family to graduate college. “My background is similar to many of their stories. I understand so many of their fears, so many of their obstacles, so many of their challenges,” she observes. “It’s a gift to be able to ask myself, “What would have helped me when I was their age?” I then plan and act.”’
One of the strategic ways LADF acts is through frequent assessments: pre- and post-program surveys allow them to be responsive to participants’ needs. “We really believe in the power of data to help shape our programming,” affirms Whiteman. Recently, one such survey showed a deficit in mental health support training among coaches – only 18% felt fully equipped to support their athletes emotionally. The intervention? Trauma-sensitive sports-based training has been rolled out for 1500 coaches in the program, reinforced over 13 annual sessions.
A 2022 Stubhub survey ranked the Dodgers fanbase as the most committed of any MLB franchise. This powerful connection between city and team gives the Foundation huge public momentum, meaning the support can be returned directly into the community itself, at remarkable scale. The flagship Dodgers Dreamteam program provides comprehensive sports-based development and mentorship for young people with a focus on addressing social injustice.
Across its years of operation, Dodgers Dreamteam has provided over 76,000 youth with access to play, development and essential social-emotional learning opportunities. Thanks to the involvement of sixteen affiliate partners who provide wraparound services, it not only cultivates athletic prowess but also nurtures vital life skills, instilling confidence and resilience in young minds. “Beyond physical exercise, competition and fun, players are also gaining mentorship,” notes Whiteman. “It’s truly bigger than just baseball.”
INSPIRING FUTURES
Part of this mentorship is a responsibility to uplift and inspire groups of young people who are frequently sidelined in society. Workshops like “Coaching Girls in Sport” work to increase girls’ participation in sports by fostering environments that prioritize their needs and experiences. The payoff is clear: girls participation has grown from 778 in 2015 to over 2600 in 2023.
Likewise, the College and Career Accelerator Initiative is using Black History Month as a platform to expose Black students and other students of color to diverse career options as highlighted by members of the Dodgers and LADF. Young participants got to hear from trailblazers and see the many pathways open to them in the world of sports, and beyond. “When young people see professionals who look like them, they realize that career possibilities are endless,” says Whiteman.
Amidst challenging statistics highlighting food insecurity, homelessness and academic challenges facing marginalized communities, LADF remains unwavering in its dedication to effecting meaningful change through the transformative power of collective action. By addressing the intersecting factors that contribute to health disparities, they empower individuals to break free from the cycle of adversity and thrive against all odds. And the winning rewards keep coming. As Whiteman says, “There’s no greater sense of pride and accomplishment than to know that your efforts helped change someone’s life forever.”
Beyond Sport is proud to help support LADF’s Dreamteam program as part of our Head In the Game program powered by the Z Zurich Foundation. Visit Head In The Game’s Resource Hub to access diverse mental wellbeing resources for teens.
Photos: Yannick Peterhans and Jon SooHoo for the Dodgers Foundation
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