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As a rookie whose roots lie in west coast soil, accustomed to sunny weather and good vibes which lend themselves nicely to full soccer stadiums, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Washington community on a cold and windy March evening for our first open training session at Audi Field.
To my surprise, as I walked out of the tunnel for the first time, I was greeted by more than 6,000 fans eager to cheer our every move, examining who the new standouts might be this year, and ever-faithfully supporting the veteran stalwarts of the club.
As training ended, my teammates and I took a lap to thank the fans in attendance, and I began to realize that the relationship between those of us on the grass and those of you in the stands was more than just a group of supporters and their team. There was a sense of genuine connection, and as I waved and clapped, I was nearly brought to tears by this new reality — this game that has carried me so many places now connected me to a new city, and the heart of that city is community.
The longer I have been in Washington, the more I’ve felt that sense of belonging come alive in my own heart. From the jump, my teammates and I have had the opportunity to participate in various events across D.C. that have grown my appreciation for my new home and the people in it.
We have helped at youth camps with our local partners like DC Soccer Club, hosted adult clinics with DC SCORES, fished in the Potomac with the Department of Energy and Environment (D.O.E.E.) on a Sunday morning, participated in the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn, helped at a So Kids SOAR adaptive clinic, ran a summer camp with the Open Goal Project, christened a mini pitch with the US Soccer Foundation and cheered on Special Olympics athletes.
This club and this team have made a valiant effort to have a hand reach every corner of this city, especially the vulnerable, forgotten, and under-appreciated parts. It has taken a grassroots approach to community by investing time and effort at an individual level, attempting to fuel the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of every Spirit supporter from every walk of life.
The intention here is to do things differently. To actually connect with the faces in the crowd. To give meaning to what we’re doing on the pitch and off it. To give you something to cheer for, to stand behind, to believe in. We’re using the power of a little round ball to change people’s lives.
In the process of trying to positively impact the community around me, my life and my heart has been profoundly changed in the process. It has given a greater sense of purpose to my career.
When I step out onto the field I am not just playing to win or for the name on the back of my jersey. I am playing for the blind child who threw his hands in the air after scoring his first goal; for the shy girl who was afraid to get her shoes dirty but whose face lit up when her foot connected with a ball for the first time; for the middle schoolers whose mini pitch at their school is their only safe space to compete and be their truest self. I am playing for you.
When games get hard, my legs get heavy and my lungs start burning, I picture the joy on the faces of every individual who I’ve worked with in this community and remember that they are counting on us. In those moments, we remember that we carry the hopes of a city on our shoulders, that what we do in between those white lines matters for something so much bigger than ourselves.
-Kate Wiesner, #6
