Strength for Good Friday 28.6.24

The LAFC Foundation supports our club’s mission to unite the world’s cities through the world’s soccer, bring joy to people and be a force for good in our community by supporting vital programs and taking the indomitable Black & Gold spirit wherever we go. By supporting the programs and infrastructure that give young people access to the game we love, we not only provide fun and physical exercise – but also vital mentors and a path to lifelong success beyond the field.

Angelica Urquidez, Head of Programming and Community Engagement, Thinkwatts Foundation

Meet Angelica “Angie” Urquidez! Angie is the Director of Programming and Community Engagement for the Thinkwatts Foundation. Get to know Angie – her passions, goals, and how she and her team are making a difference in the Watts and Los Angeles communities.

Tell us a little about who you are and where you grew up.

My name is Angelica Urquidez and I am a first generation Mexican American. I was born in Watts and raised by a single mother. I attended schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area during my childhood and graduated from high school in Watts. I love animals and all things environmental – I am a huge environmental justice advocate – and my goal is to bring more awareness and support to the issues facing my community.

What inspired you to work in the community? What made you decide to work with Thinkwatts?

After high school, I started attending a community college and then transferred to CSUN where I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. I originally wanted to be a lawyer, but as I was in college, I became more interested in opportunities that would allow me to pursue my passion for animals and the environment. In college, I even had the opportunity to travel abroad and experience different communities.

This was a great experience for me and after graduating from CSUN, I returned to my community in Watts. I wanted to see a change and bring more resources to the area. I wanted to pave the way for people in my community and show them that if I – someone who walked the same streets, hallways and classrooms as them – could do it, they could do it too.

In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, a close friend and I decided to organize a protest in the Watts community to raise awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement. I contacted community organizations through social media and messaged Stix directly – not knowing who he was – asking for his support. He responded immediately and arranged a meeting.

Through this, I met other leaders and nonprofits in my community who fully supported me in organizing the protest. That’s how it all started. At this event, I met so many people and was exposed to a whole new world that I didn’t even know existed in my community.

I started attending and volunteering at other events to see how I could support and collaborate in those areas. I continued to spend more time with Stix and his team and decided to volunteer at their events because I was grateful for their support at mine. Towards the end of 2020, Stix and his team hosted a toy drive and that day, Stix offered me the opportunity to be part of the team. I have been with the Thinkwatts Foundation ever since.

How would you describe the purpose of the Thinkwatts Foundation and its main pillars?

The primary purpose of the Thinkwatts Foundation is to find solutions to problems affecting the LA and Watts communities. Some of our main pillars include addressing homelessness, environmental justice, income inequality, food insecurity, and sports programs.

Our various programs help address the issues that affect people every day – we support people on their entrepreneurial journey, provide financial literacy workshops, provide clean filtered water and food banks, and test the air quality in our community. Many of these programs are delivered through various partnerships and organizations that help us address the issues and make a positive impact.

Why are programs like the Thinkwatts Foundation important?

This is a program that was never offered in the community. Growing up, we never had adequate access to the resources that the Thinkwatts Foundation offers. We had to look outside of the community for resources, and even then, those resources often required a fee. Now, through the Thinkwatts Foundation, we are directly in the community offering these free and accessible resources. We are here to meet people’s needs and answer any questions they might have.

Why is it important that the LAFC Foundation supports Thinkwatts?

This is the first time we’ve worked so closely with a Major League Soccer team in LA. Seeing the foundation behind LAFC fan communities like us shows the relationships and connections they build and create. Through this partnership, we’re able to connect with the young people who look up to the team and its players. These kids don’t have access to the games or can’t play for free. By partnering with the LAFC Foundation, we’re able to bring them those opportunities right in their own neighborhoods. It has a huge impact. Meeting the LAFC Academy coaches, training with them, getting a jersey and t-shirts, all of those little things bring so much light into students’ lives. It makes them even more engaged with the program. Having access to resources and coaches makes it that much easier for them to enjoy the game.

What impact have sports programs had on youth and society?

Having to pay to participate in youth sports is a huge barrier in our community. The Thinkwatts Foundation removes that barrier. Parents are used to paying for sports programs, but since we no longer do that, we simply ask that kids show up, bring a positive attitude, and take something away from the program – whether it’s improving their soccer skills or their communication skills.

Additionally, most of our community members struggle with income issues and other hurdles that don’t allow them to prioritize their mental health. It was important to me to include mental health promotion in our sports program, not only because I know how hard it is to deal with, but because it’s important to learn why it’s necessary to take care of our bodies, minds, and souls. Teaching children this at a young age helps break cycles in their families and opens their minds to learning.

During our soccer training, we incorporate wellness aspects such as breathing exercises, stretches and positive affirmations both before and after practice. This helps to ensure that the “health is wealth” attitude becomes a habit that our youth get used to and hopefully incorporate into their daily lives.

Many young participants are shy and nervous at first. Today, many of these participants open up to me and tell me how they are feeling on a given day. I am very proud of this development because it shows that they know they can trust us if they need someone to talk to. This confidence also affects how they approach their games – you can tell when they are feeling a little more confident and focused.

What impact has the partnership between the LAFC Foundation and the Thinkwatts Foundation had on the community?

Access to resources removes many barriers for youth who want to pursue a professional soccer career. Through our soccer program, we have also been able to support the families of our participants. Families tell us about the little struggles they go through and we often have the means and resources to help. Without our soccer clinics, we would not be able to hear these stories and help the families in this way.

By partnering with the LAFC Foundation, we are able to build a deeper connection with members of our community. This goes beyond the impact of sport; it extends resources to the community and families who may not even know where to ask for resources. They come to our soccer clinics and see that they are in a safe environment where they can share their problems or ask questions. LAFC has always been a huge support and we can’t thank them enough for how much we have accomplished together through this partnership.

LAFC X BMO Thinkwatts Youth Soccer Tournament

To conclude the spring Thinkwatts soccer courses, we hosted our second LAFC x BMO Thinkwatts Youth Soccer Tournament on June 8, 2024. Participants warmed up and received helpful tips from our LAFC Academy coaches before the tournament began! In partnership with BMO, we provided BMO soccer balls, t-shirts, and giveaways to all youth participants.