Inside Women’s Soccer’s Workout for BLM Initiative: Part III

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Reflecting on Brown women's soccer's Workout for BLM initiative, rising seniors Kayla Thompson and Sydney Cummings look at an effective component of a movement that they hope will continue into the future.

After some initial hesitancy as to whether everyone on the team would be comfortable discussing racial injustice, Cummings noted that instead the opposite happened – the Bears rallied around and embraced the cause, showing to the incoming freshmen and the outside world the program's culture of inclusivity.

"Those conversations are really difficult, and I think our initiative and our statement helped spark some things in the athletic department," Cummings said. "Those aren't comfortable conversations for a lot of teams and people, but kudos for them to having those conversations anyway."

The initiative acted as a place for the team to come together off the field. Thompson learned about her teammates' skills outside of soccer as fellow Bears aided in putting together the initiative's graphics, video development, voice over pieces, and GoFundMe logistics.

Overall the duo appreciated the efforts of all the teams and individuals that supported the cause in any way, and they hope that the effort is just the starting point of change for the better.

"A big thing that we repeat is that this is a movement and not a moment," Thompson said. "I hope that the conversations continue to happen and keep the movement going."

Brown University Athletics

Inside Women’s Soccer’s Workout for BLM Initiative: Part III

Players Mentioned

Sydney Cummings

Kayla Thompson

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