Mother's Day at Nashville SC
Sun • May 8 • 3:00 PM - 7:30 PM
GEODIS Park, 501 Benton Avenue, Nashville
Calling All Moms!
Fur moms, birth mamas, grandmas, bonus moms, aunts & mentors included. No matter your mom status, a Queen-for-a-Day treat is totally deserved! So grab your girls and be our guest at the Nashville SC match versus Real Salt Lake in Section 615 at GEODIS Park on Mother's Day, May 8th.
Nashville SC will treat you to 2 FREE tickets, a t-shirt, food voucher, professional photos and feature in the Community Flag Experience during the pre-game show. You must check in by 3:00 PM to participate. No exceptions.
Parking is not provided. We strongly recommend traveling by ride share and arriving early to avoid delays.
Space is limited. Register TODAY!
Play Like a Girl Honored As U.S. Soccer 2022 SheBelieves Ambassador
PLAY LIKE A GIRL HONORED AS U.S. SOCCER 2022 SHEBELIEVES AMBASSADOR
Play Like a Girl Joins Network of Nonprofit Organizations Working Across Sectors and The Nation To Positively Impact Girls & Women
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (Feb. 23, 2022) – Play Like a Girl has been selected by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a 2022 SheBelieves Ambassador. This special program unites and elevates nonprofit organizations embodying the SheBelieves mission of inspiring and empowering girls and young women.
U.S. Soccer is the governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States and oversees 24 National Teams, including the four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions, the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Play Like a Girl leverages sport to build a diverse pipeline of young women in competitive, male-dominated fields including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by helping more than 1,250 girls annually to build confidence and leadership skills during their critical middle school years.
Through the SheBelieves Ambassadors program, Play Like a Girl will work directly with the Federation to showcase each other’s mission, people, initiatives, and resources, to positively impact girls and women.
“We enjoyed being a member of the inaugural class of SheBelieves Ambassadors and are excited to continue our work to level the playing field for girls and women in soccer,” said Dr. Kimberly Clay, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Play Like a Girl. “Together, we will ensure that underserved girls and girls of color have equal access and opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Play Like a Girl was part of the inaugural class of SheBelieves Ambassadors in 2021 and returns again this year. SheBelieves Ambassadors operate across a variety of sectors including the arts, STEM, education, community development, and professional development. Together, they support girls and women from diverse or underserved communities.
The shared theme reflects U.S. Soccer’s commitment to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and using its platforms to amplify national conversations fostering DEIB.
“SheBelieves Ambassadors are doing extraordinary work for girls and women who are too often overlooked, underrepresented, or underserved,” said U.S. Soccer President, Cindy Parlow Cone. “We are honored to welcome and celebrate this year’s class of SheBelieves Ambassadors, who align with both our SheBelieves mission to empower girls and young women and U.S. Soccer’s core principles of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Where our U.S. Women’s National Team inspire us on the field, these organizations inspire us off of it.”
As part of the SheBelieves Ambassadors program, Play Like a Girl will connect with fellow Ambassadors, be promoted across U.S. Soccer’s extensive social media network – including a spotlight feature on a female staff member or beneficiary – and will be featured on scoreboards and in-venue announcements at the final match of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa. Ambassadors will also enjoy complimentary access to the SheBelieves Summit, presented by Deloitte, and creatively work with U.S. Soccer and Federation staff on bespoke collaborations meeting the nonprofits’ current needs. This year’s class will also participate in a three-part capacity-building series focused on organizational and professional development topics of their choosing.
The SheBelieves Ambassadors program recognizes the critical role nonprofits and their staffs have in impacting lives and affect positive cultural change. Ambassadors are announced each year around U.S. Soccer’s SheBelieves Cup, one of the world’s premier annual international women’s soccer tournaments.
IN ADDITION TO PLAY LIKE A GIRL, THE 2022 SHEBELIEVES AMBASSADORS INCLUDE:
- Black Girls Code - Building pathways for young women of color to embrace the current tech marketplace as builders and creators by introducing them to skills in computer programming and technology.
- Brown Girls Do Ballet - Promoting diversity in the arts through annual scholarships, a mentor network, and community programs to empower young girls, and increasing participation of underrepresented populations in ballet programs through ballet performances, photo exhibitions, and resources.
- Esperanza United – Mobilizing Latinas and Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence through supporting Latin@ survivors, families, and communities to gain greater safety, connectedness, and self-sufficiency.
- National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) - Empowering LGBTQ Asians and Pacific Islanders through capacity building, policy and advocacy advancing intersectional justice and equity, ensuring LGBTQ API representation in research and resources, and supporting a federation of grassroots community organizations.
- PowerPlay - Advancing the lives of girls through sports and helping them grow physically, emotionally, and academically stronger through confidence-building athletics and play.
- She’s The First (STF) – Fighting for a world where every girl chooses her own future, by teaming up with grassroots organizations across the globe to make sure girls everywhere are educated, respected, and heard.
- U.S. Soccer Foundation - Providing underserved communities access to innovative play spaces and programs that instill hope and foster well-being, while increasing girls’ and women’s participation through the Foundation’s United for Girls initiative.
ABOUT SHEBELIEVES
SheBelieves is a platform that encourages girls and women of all ages to accomplish their goals and dreams, in sports and beyond. SheBelieves was originally launched in the run-up to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and has since evolved into a special series of events and programming that bring a powerful message of empowerment and that of believing in yourself into communities across the nation.
ABOUT PLAY LIKE A GIRL
Play Like a Girl!® is a 501(c)3 charitable organization founded on the belief that girls given the opportunity to play on a team become women with the confidence to stand on their own. We envision a world where the playing field is level and every girl reaches her full potential. An organization for girls by girls, Play Like a Girl is on a mission to leverage the skills girls gain from sport to build a diverse pipeline of young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). To accomplish this, we collaborate with schools, corporations and other partner organizations to deliver a coordinated, multi-year program model through which middle school girls experience practical lessons in leadership and engage in hands-on STEM education through the lens of a confidence-building curriculum, while being exposed to inspiring women role models and mentors. Play Like a Girl is a Black, woman-founded and led organization governed by an active volunteer Board of Directors - because we know real change is a team sport. Since inception in 2004, the Nashville-based organization has benefited more than 50,000 girls and women in the United States and across the world. To join our squad, visit iplaylikeagirl.org, and follow @iplaylikeagirl on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Play Like a Girl LIVE - Connect
It’s more important than ever to be inspired, empowered and connected.
In our run up to International Day of the Girl (October 11), we introduce Play Like a Girl LIVE – a free, interactive virtual experience to inspire, empower and keep us connected during this unprecedented time of social distancing.
With the help of a few prominent women in diverse fields, Play Like a Girl LIVE addresses topics like confidence, leadership, social justice and more—all while networking, mentoring and having a little fun!
Thursday, September 17: Connect
Olympic soccer superstar and mom of two girls Christie Pearce Rampone shares practical, real world advice from her book Be All In: Raising Kids for Success in Sports and Life on how mothers can build relationships with their daughters that will set girls up for lifelong success.
Thursday, September 24: Impact
Looking for ways you can show up for black and brown girls—in ways that matter now? Former athlete and youth basketball coach Portia Archer shares a range of lessons from playing on the basketball court to leading in the boardroom as Chief Operating Officer of the NBA G League.
Play Like a Girl LIVE - Inspired
As we gear up for International Day of the Girl on October 11, we’re celebrating women who’ve inspired, empowered and connected women of all ages and backgrounds—through sport and STEM.
Together, we are working to teach middle school girls how to fearlessly conquer even the most difficult circumstances in school, life and, eventually, career and still reach their full potential.
Ready to take a page out of their book and make your mark? Start here.
KATE T. PARKER
Meet Kate T. Parker, photographer and New York Times best-selling author of the new book Play Like a Girl: Life Lessons from the Soccer Field. After college, Kate worked at an advertising agency and later, at CNN, producing news. She left her job to be home with her young girls almost 15 years ago. A million YouTube videos later, Kate found her new passion for storytelling through photography. Today, Kate is a girl boss leaving her mark on the world and inspiring us to do the same.
Here, she talks about the power of team and what it means to play like a girl:
Misperception of girls in sports: As a girl, I was loud, confident and stubborn–all traits thought by many as irritating. But I quickly found those characteristics to be assets on the playing field. They became my superpowers, and like many girls and women, I need them to be successful in life as a mother, wife and business woman.
Power of team: Girls from my photography and book projects credit team as their main motivator for playing sports. They’re able to deepen relationships and grow with the support of their teammates. The team is a sisterhood. You win together. Lose together. Break bones together. The team helps to lift you up.
Building and managing strong teams: If you’re lucky, you’ll get to choose and build your most important team ever: Family. My husband of 16 years is my biggest supporter and most dedicated teammate. I’m convinced that I couldn’t be great without him holding me down at home. When girls find their team, there is absolutely nothing they can’t accomplish on the field and in life.
Take a peek at Kate’s responses to our rapid-fire questions on a recent Play Like a Girl LIVE below for more inspo:
- Who inspires you? Megan Rapinoe
- Texting or talking? Talking? Who does that?!
- TikTok or IG Reels? TikTok — because of the dances, of course.
- Sing one line of your favorite song. Watch here. She nailed it!
Kate says, “If you are passionate about something, keep pushing!” She’s convinced that one YES can change your life. And, we agree. Keep pushing. Keep playing!
Weren’t able to attend? Catch the replay here.
RSVP today! Join us for an upcoming Play Like a Girl LIVE event this September.
Hadley: A Free Spirit Bravely Growing Into The Best Version of Herself
“Potential Realized: A Mission with Impact” puts the spotlight on five amazing middle school students whose shared love of STEM and sports transcends their differences. These young women — all Play Like a Girl program participants — are true embodiment of our determination to create a world where girls believe in endless possibilities. Meet all of our “Potential Realized” honorees here.
Name, age
Hadley, 12
School
HG Hill Middle
Hometown
Nashville
Favorite sport
Volleyball
Favorite STEM subject
Technology
Words you live by
“When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” —Michelle Obama
Video: This student creates space for girls to be free
How is she potential, realized?
“It’s a place where I can be myself.” That’s the way HG Hill Middle School student Hadley emphatically describes her experience as a camper at Play Like a Girl last summer. Hadley, who is an independent thinker and all-around ball of happiness, pushes other girls in her space to be free, have confidence in their abilities and express themselves without conforming to the mainstream.
“Play Like a Girl has taught me how to be free and express myself without worrying about what others think,” she told us. Hadley, like many students her age, was somewhat averse to science and math when she started camp. But she loved the arts including liberal arts, fine arts, music, design-thinking and language arts. Some might even describe her as a walking comedy show or music playlist. However, Hadley had never known art to work in concert with other areas of STEM until her music production class.
“By integrating elements of art into the camp experience, we believe that students can use both sides of their brains—analytical and creative—to become the best thinkers of tomorrow,” said Play Like a Girl founder and CEO Dr. Kim. “The arts are critical components to innovation, so we seek opportunities like this to incorporate the artistic and design-related skills and thinking processes to student-learning in STEM because it’s important for students like Hadley to see the limitless possibilities available to them.”
The Nashville native is on a clear path to becoming the best possible version of herself and encourages other girls her age to do the same. Her friends from summer camp describe her as a wildflower: “Hadley is always so funny. I admire her confidence. She’s a free spirit, unbothered by the naysayers. She’s okay with Hadley,” said her peers.
Hadley not only commands respect and admiration in the classroom. She also captivates those who follow her onto the soccer field. She’s candid and honest about her own personal challenges, including dealing with failure which can be paralyzing for girls at her developmental stage.
According to researchers, more than half of girls lose confidence at puberty and seven in 10 girls avoid trying new things because they are afraid to fail. Eight in 10 of the girls surveyed said the pressure to please others and be perfect led them to fear mistakes, while 75% pointed to social media as a key contributor to that feeling.
Luckily, Hadley embraces failure as fuel to build her confidence. Since as early as she can remember, Hadley says her mother has encouraged her to rethink set-backs—whether missing a game-winning goal or failing a major test—as a way to build confidence and keep going. It’s an opportunity that she describes as “the bounce back.”
Throughout the year, Hadley has unknowingly created an environment where other girls feel free to try new things, make mistakes and are confident enough to try again. “I love Play Like a Girl because I can have fun and express myself,” she said. “When you’re there, you can just be yourself.”
