1 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Dear Latino USA listener. 2 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 2: Before we start, you should know that if you want 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 2: to listen to this episode ad free, just join Puturo 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 2: Plus and you can join for as little as seven 5 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 2: dollars a month. Joining also gets you behind the scenes 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: access and yes, some cheese may so click the link 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: in the episode description and after you do that, then 8 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 2: click play. Let's go to the show. 9 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 3: In the fall of twenty fourteen, soccer coach Mick Moulfridol 10 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 3: was on the field in downtown Los Angeles. 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: He was leading practice with his girls. 12 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 3: Team, but on this day a new girl showed up. 13 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 3: One of his players had brought her younger cousin who 14 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 3: was only nine years old. 15 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 4: And I see this little thing way off in the 16 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 4: distance and she's like a like a wolverine. She's in 17 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 4: the goal that's blocking shots from girls eighteen and nineteen 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:04,919 Speaker 4: year old girls. 19 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 5: And I come down there and. 20 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 3: It's Nilli Nielli Baraona, or as she would call herself, 21 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 3: little MESSI like the Argentine soccer star. 22 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 5: Leo Mascy Massy. 23 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 6: I give that name to myself mostly because I thought 24 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 6: that I was a little messy. I wanted to be him. 25 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 6: I manifested being like him. 26 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 3: Nielli Hud learned her moves from watching YouTube videos of Messi. 27 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 5: They shouldn't be in the constellation in the heavens. 28 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 6: After Messi, it was just watching something very magical, so smooth, 29 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 6: so competitive. He's short too, so I'm sure I've always 30 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 6: been short, so I can do what. 31 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 7: He can do. 32 00:01:55,760 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: Nielli loved soccer, but the odds were against her. For one, 33 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 3: only seven percent of female professional soccer players are Latinas, 34 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 3: and even in minor or community leagues, there are very 35 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 3: very few Latina girls in female teams. But Nielli had 36 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 3: found a rare gem, the downtown La Soccer Club. They 37 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 3: had several girls teams and most of the players looked 38 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 3: like her. Nielli started coming to practice regularly. At first 39 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 3: she was a goalkeeper. 40 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 6: And it wasn't until Meg one day he wanted to 41 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 6: join me out the Lanta and like forward, and then boom, 42 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 6: I started scoring goals, and then she just told me 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 6: that I'm too. 44 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: Good to be in the goal. 45 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 3: Nielli knew this was a very unique opportunity. Her parents 46 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 3: couldn't afford paying for a club. They both came from 47 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 3: men Salvador in the nineties, fleeing the civil war. Her 48 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 3: mother worked as a hotel housekeeper and her father as 49 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 3: a handyman. 50 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 6: Coming from South Central, you know, like low income communities, 51 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 6: they were always just like hesitant because of how expensively 52 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 6: was when you're entering a club. It's like a two 53 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 6: hundred and fifty dollars registration fee monthly apart from the paint, 54 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 6: like thirty for each piece of clothing for dirty, for shorts, 55 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 6: for cleed. 56 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 3: Plus there are travel costs for games and competitions which 57 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 3: can end up in the thousands. 58 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 6: And with Downtown it was like the complete opposite. With Nick, 59 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 6: he would always throw a helping hand. 60 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 3: Coach Meek got Nike to sponsor the team. He also 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 3: went after grants and donations so that the girls could 62 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 3: play for free. 63 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 4: We don't want to be a financial burden to families 64 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 4: that can't carry that kind of burden, because you know, 65 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 4: soccer in this country is literally a paid a. 66 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 3: Place for Meek started the first girls team at the 67 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: club in twenty eleven and now there are ten girls teams. 68 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 5: This is our safe space here. 69 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: But now that safe space is in jeopardy. 70 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 3: The nonprofit Soccer club is facing the same challenges of 71 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 3: many Angelis. 72 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: Their rent is going up up to four times. 73 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 6: It's kind of like being thrown to the wools now 74 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 6: because it's like, oh, what was once our home isn't anymore. 75 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 3: And there's the even more frightening challenge other Angelinos are 76 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 3: facing two being caught up in an ice rate. 77 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 4: He was picked up, thrown on a plane, and then 78 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 4: literally within a couple of days, he was back in Guatemala. 79 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 4: It's it's terrifying. 80 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: From Fudromidia. It's Latino Usa. I'm Maria Rosa today. How 81 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: a small soccer club in downtown Los Angeles is fighting 82 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: for Latina girls all while the community is under threat. 83 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: Dear listener, you know that soccer or football is the 84 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: most beloved sport in our communities, and a lot of 85 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: kids dream of becoming professional players, idolizing stars like Leo 86 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The percentage of professional Latin American 87 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: and Latino male players is actually pretty big, but Latina 88 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 2: women make up less than ten percent of professional female teams. 89 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: Latinas face a lot of barriers. One of them is 90 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: the stereotype that you probably know that the boys in 91 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 2: the family are the ones who should be out there 92 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: scoring goals, but also playing soccer can be expensive in 93 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 2: the United States, and as we heard at the top 94 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: of the show, this nonprofit soccer club in DTLA is 95 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: now facing a couple of new challenges. One of them 96 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: is financial, but the other one is the daily safety 97 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 2: of immigrant and refugee populations. So what is next for 98 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: this club and what's going to happen to the more 99 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: than one hundred and fifty Latina girls who now play there. 100 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: Latino USA Senior producer Marta Martinez started us out at 101 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 2: the top of the show, and she's going to bring 102 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: us this story every Monday. 103 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 3: In Wednesday, the big soccer field shining bright and green 104 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 3: in Downtown LA comes to life at six pm. 105 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: It's time for soccer practice. When I visit it. 106 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 3: In the fall of twenty twenty three, about one hundred 107 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 3: kids and teens took over the field. What's different about 108 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 3: the Downtown Elle Soccer Club for mothers in the city 109 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 3: and pretty much the whole country, is that more than 110 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 3: ninety percent of the girl players are Latinas. 111 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 7: Let's hell like, here we go as high as we 112 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 7: can get, and he's really high. 113 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 3: The youngest ones are six years old, others are teenagers. 114 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 3: So I'm about to graduate from high school. 115 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: And then on the way back, kick your butts's. 116 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 3: Mick Moulfridel, who used to be Nayeli's coach, is now 117 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 3: the president of the club. 118 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: He showed me around. 119 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 4: And this is pretty much our this is sort of 120 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 4: our top team here. 121 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, now these girls can play. 122 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 3: I mean he's in his early seventies and has a 123 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 3: mob of unruly brown hair with a gray street right 124 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: down the middle. He was born in Germany and his 125 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 3: family came to the US when he was a toddler. 126 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 4: My father the only part he could play with soccer. 127 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 4: So when I was a little kid, my dad and 128 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 4: I was in the backyard and kick an old big 129 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 4: soccer ball around, and I thought it was kind of 130 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 4: boring because there was no one else to play with. 131 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 3: Eventually, Mick fell in love with soccer, and later he 132 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 3: tried to do the same with his son. He even 133 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 3: became a coach for his son's soccer team, but his 134 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 3: son never found that love for the game. Years later, 135 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 3: in two thousand and eight, we got a call to 136 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: see if you could coach for an upcoming tournament. 137 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: It was a girls tournament. 138 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 4: They said they don't have a coach and I said, okay, 139 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 4: I'll run one practice for them, but I'm done. 140 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 3: I've had my run and I'm ready to go, ready 141 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 3: to relax in his retirement years. 142 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 4: So I coached them and it was probably sixty seventy 143 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 4: percent lateen athletes. And then there was nobody there for 144 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 4: the next night, so I showed up then and then 145 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 4: they had a tournament, so I went there. 146 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 5: I just got hooked down. 147 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 3: This team, and girls played soccer differently than boys. 148 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 4: Boys team, so I was just They described as a 149 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 4: pyramid with the alpha player at the top, and girls 150 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 4: teams are like beehives more everyone's working. 151 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 5: One of us succeeds, we all succeed. 152 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 4: They just know how to comfort each other and how 153 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 4: to support each other way way more than boys. I 154 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 4: could never go back to coaching boys, just because I 155 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 4: couldn't put up with them. 156 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 3: So he took the girls to the Downtown Soccer Club 157 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 3: and he became the coach of the club's first girls team. 158 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: For three or four years, he coached only one girls team, 159 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 3: but he saw there was hunger. More and more girls 160 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 3: started showing up wanting to try out, but many of 161 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 3: them couldn't afford club fees. Uniforms or travel. That's when 162 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 3: we got creative, and as I mentioned earlier, went to sponsors, 163 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 3: grants and donations, and the biggest thing was their rent. 164 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 3: They got a great deal on the field which belongs 165 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 3: to John Lathy Middle School in downtown. The club is 166 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 3: not part of the public school, so they paid to 167 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:41,359 Speaker 3: use the facilities. 168 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 5: It's about fifty bucks an hour. 169 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: If they went to a private field. 170 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 4: What costs us in the hundreds, you know, one hundred, 171 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 4: one hundred and fifty hundred and sixty dollars. 172 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: And they couldn't afford that. 173 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 3: The rate was so affordable because of a mandate from 174 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 3: the California Department of Education that says that public school 175 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 3: facilities should be available to community groups. So as far 176 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 3: as the financial barriers were concerned, Mick had it covered. 177 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:12,239 Speaker 3: The gender stereotype barriers, however, haven't been easy to overcome. 178 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 4: One of the first things when we have a family 179 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 4: is to convince them that the best player in their 180 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 4: family might not be one of their sons. 181 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 3: Research shows that family values are very strong among Latini's 182 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 3: and that girls are also expected to take on more 183 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 3: duties at home and in a Yellis family, her father 184 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: has never been supportive of her playing. 185 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 6: He never really showed up to my games, so that 186 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 6: always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Like I 187 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 6: always questioned about why he wouldn't just go and watch. 188 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: Did you ask him? 189 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 8: No? 190 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 6: I never really cared too because I just had so 191 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 6: much support around me. I feel like I'm a great player, 192 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 6: and my mom and my grandma thinks I'm a great player. 193 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 6: And if he can't come and realize that, like, it 194 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 6: didn't really bug me as much. 195 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: Nielli's team started winning more and more games. 196 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 3: She finished middle school, went on to high school, got 197 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,719 Speaker 3: her driver's license, and the older she got, the more 198 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 3: goals she scored. 199 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: She became the star player in part because of her coach, 200 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: Mick and. 201 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: Wondering what it was like when you know you are 202 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 3: all Latinas and you are all very young, and he's 203 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 3: like this white man, Yeah, this. 204 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 6: White Gerven man. It's funny because he tries to understand 205 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 6: this to an extent, like every time we invited him 206 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 6: to our birthdays, or like when we would hear Spanish music. 207 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 6: Of course he doesn't understand, but he tries the best 208 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 6: to make us comfortable. 209 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 5: I've learned more from them than they will ever have 210 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 5: learned from me. 211 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 3: The team became the most successful girls team Downtown had 212 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 3: ever had. They won the National Cup in twenty twenty two. 213 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 3: Naielli's future looked bright. If she got a good offer 214 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 3: from a co, she could even have a chance to 215 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 3: become a professional player. 216 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: Coming up on Latino USA, we find out what happened 217 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 2: to Naielli's opportunity and we get into today's fight to 218 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 2: keep the soccer club protected. Stay with us, not theys, Hey, 219 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 2: we're back. Before the break, we followed Naielli Baraona's rise 220 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 2: at the Downtown LA Soccer Club, where she and many 221 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: other Latinas got to follow their passion to play and 222 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 2: play for free. Naielli became the star of her team 223 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: and she was hoping to play at the college level. 224 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 2: Next Latino USA senior producer Marta Martinez is going to 225 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 2: pick up the story from here. 226 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 3: In twenty twenty two, Naielli was in her last year 227 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 3: of high school and still playing for the Downtown LA team. 228 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 3: She was at the top of her game, but the 229 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 3: players knew things were about to change. 230 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 6: Everyone on our team wanted to play college ball, so 231 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 6: we knew that our club team would come to an end. 232 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 3: Then Yelli applied to several colleges, hoping for a good 233 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 3: offer with a soccer scholarship. 234 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 6: I would send out my highlight reel, like a YouTube 235 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 6: video of me playing, and it would be hard because 236 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 6: sometimes and never got an email back of like, oh, 237 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 6: like thank you, at least like a consideration. In the end, 238 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 6: not many offers were made, you know, not the right offers. 239 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 6: There was like out of state offers that remaine, but 240 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 6: it was hard, like especially for minorities, leaving your family, 241 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 6: leaving your hometown is very hard. 242 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 3: Nowielli couldn't see herself leaving La to play for a 243 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 3: team in a lower division. For a moment, she thought 244 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 3: about doing some trials with the Salvador's national soccer team, 245 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 3: her parents' home country, but she decided to stay in 246 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: La with her family. She got into California State University 247 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 3: in Long Beach, where she's studying psychology. 248 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 6: It's a hard film's overcome because it's like you always 249 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 6: think of what you. 250 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 5: Could have been. 251 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 3: Niellie didn't break up with soccer. It's still her biggest passion. 252 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 3: Following in mixed footsteps, she now coaches younger girls at 253 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 3: the downtown La soccer club. 254 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 6: I don't want to go here, do you feel that breeze? 255 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 8: Now? 256 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 3: Col I joined her first Saturday game when I was 257 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 3: in l A a very early. 258 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 6: Games my mom's car. 259 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 3: We met in Naielli's neighborhood in South Central at six 260 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 3: fifty a yet. 261 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 2: At the light turn left of the South Broadway. 262 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 3: Niellie was driving and next to her was Lucy atasso 263 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 3: I haet Carsick, the other coach of the team. Lucy 264 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 3: and Naielli used to play together when they were younger 265 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 3: and at first. 266 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 7: And I hate her As soon as I saw her. 267 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 7: I did not like her. She was too much energy 268 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 7: for me. I am always been like very like calm, serious, 269 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 7: you know, and she has always been like very goofy, 270 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 7: very jumpy. 271 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: It's interesting because I don't see that in her. 272 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: Maybe it's because she's being shy with. 273 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 9: Me or something. I'm just more mature enough, Like I 274 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 9: could definitely be goofy, but when I have to be serious, 275 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 9: I'll be like more professionals. You're a coach now, yeah, 276 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 9: now I'm a coach, so I can't you know, I 277 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 9: can't joke around too much. 278 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: Things changed over time. 279 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 3: Naielle and Lucy got very close, and then they fell 280 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 3: in love. So now they basically spend all day together. 281 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 5: Well, look at the little puppy. 282 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 3: Look In the back of the car next to me 283 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 3: was Valeria, one of Nayelle's players. 284 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 10: I'm eleven years old. I play as a winger, mostly 285 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 10: on the left. 286 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 9: And I don't know. 287 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 3: Baldia needed a ride because her parents had to go 288 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 3: to work early in the morning. 289 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 10: I go with Lucy Nielli because they're like myself moms, 290 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 10: even my mom. 291 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: Even my mom said that, your mom said that, Yeah. 292 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 10: She said that, they're my other moms. 293 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 7: We just became moms of like teenagers or soon to 294 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 7: be teenagers, and like it's not even just one, it's 295 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 7: like the whole team. 296 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 3: Because many of the parents at the club have multiple 297 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 3: jobs and work long hours, often on the weekends too, 298 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 3: Getting two and from games and practice is not easy 299 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: for some girls. Naielli is the one doing the driving now, 300 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 3: but for years she saw Meck picking up the players himself. 301 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 6: He would drive across town if he had to, like 302 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 6: if practice was at six and he had to pick 303 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 6: up three players that were in different areas. He personally 304 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 6: would make sure that he catches everyone. 305 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 3: Coaches at Downtown Soccer Club don't get paid well, they 306 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 3: get money for gas. 307 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: So it's a lot to take on. 308 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 3: But Naiellie and Lucy want to help girls build the 309 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 3: kind of sisterhood they had growing up. 310 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 7: We had an amazing team, and our goal is to 311 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 7: like have our team be as connected as our team was, 312 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 7: and we consider each other family. We hang out all 313 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 7: the time, so all of that is that we know 314 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 7: how to rely on each other, so we wish that 315 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 7: they have that as well. 316 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: When we got to Hawaiian Gardens, about forty minutes south 317 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 3: of south central LA, the sun was still rising and 318 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 3: the whole sky was tinged in deep orange. 319 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 6: Okay, bring it. 320 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 3: The girls put on their purple jerseys and started warming 321 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 3: up without a lot of energy. 322 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 7: I have to say, we have to start off strong. 323 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 3: The other team was wearing red and some of their 324 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 3: players towered over Naielli's girls. 325 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, the big defenerator. 326 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 3: Lucy and Naielli gathered the girls right before the game started. 327 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 3: They made a tight circle and piled up their hands 328 00:17:55,040 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 3: at the center. The sun was golden as the players 329 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 3: ran around the field, parents cheering from the sidelines. The 330 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 3: other team scored first, then Downtown scort. It looked like 331 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 3: it could be anyone's game. Yeah, but the other team 332 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 3: quickly scored another goal, taking the lead. 333 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 6: I know you're ready. 334 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 3: By halftime, While the girls drank water and rested for 335 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 3: a bit, Naiellie got them in a circle. 336 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: She sounded frustrated. 337 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 6: Ladies, we're playing waitress sloppy, were ball chasing. We know 338 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 6: not to bunch up anymoremits as we're failures that practice. 339 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 3: They were hopeful as they went in for the second half, 340 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 3: but the Downtown Girls were not able to turn the 341 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 3: score around. They lost the game two to one. I 342 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:56,719 Speaker 3: asked Valeria, the eleven year old player who was with 343 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 3: us in the car, how she felt about the game. 344 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 10: I guess yes, I feel happy because technically it was 345 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 10: a reugh a stop because he didn't count us. But 346 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 10: we should try more next. 347 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 3: Time the ref of course, it's always the ref right. 348 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 3: Other girls felt similar good. 349 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 10: But I just feel like we could have like tried 350 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 10: more and get her head in the game, but like 351 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 10: they were so huge, like we couldn't do anything about it. 352 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 1: I asked the coaches too, how did you feel about 353 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: the game? 354 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 10: Horrible? 355 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 6: It was horrible, Not that our players were horrible. It 356 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 6: was just the causer being made was horrible. Sorry, respectfully, 357 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 6: but you know, it just it just wasn't our game. 358 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 6: When you lose, you learn, when you win, you also learn. 359 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: So that's how we take it. 360 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 3: Nayelie was used to fighting inside the pitch. She knew 361 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 3: her team needed some work, but what she didn't expect 362 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 3: was that soon she would also have to fight to 363 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 3: keep the club alive. 364 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. 365 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 2: Hey, we're back, Marta Martinez is going to pick up 366 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 2: the story from here. 367 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 3: After my reporting in LA I had to put this 368 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 3: story on hold for over a year, but I checked 369 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 3: in with Meke every once in a while for any 370 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 3: updates on the club and Nayeli and in one of 371 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 3: those check ins last June, Hello. 372 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 5: Mike, good to see you. 373 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 3: It's been quite a long time. Yes, how are things 374 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 3: going at the club. 375 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 4: Well, you know, we obviously have a lot of issues 376 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 4: on the ground that we have no control over. 377 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 5: The threatening our families. 378 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 3: The recent ice rates to detain and the port and 379 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 3: documented immigrants have deeply shaken Los Angeles. The terror has 380 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 3: reached the club too. Some of the club's parents have 381 00:20:58,520 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 3: been picked up. 382 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 4: One of the people I work with. He's sort of 383 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 4: an administer for the club. His brother has to go 384 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 4: to court every six months just to check in. And 385 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 4: he was picked up leaving the court, thrown on a plane, 386 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 4: sent Oklahoma, thrown on another plane, sent to Texas, and 387 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 4: then literally within a couple of days, he was back 388 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 4: in Guatemala and when they arrested him, they took his 389 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 4: phone away. It's terrifying. This one girl was telling me 390 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 4: about her uncle. I guess he worked at a McDonald's 391 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 4: and they came into McDonald's and he jumped out the 392 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 4: back window and ran away, and they ended up tewing 393 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 4: his car away. It's just there's this level of fear 394 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 4: that a kid shouldn't have to live with, and so 395 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 4: we have to take precautions. We have a group of 396 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 4: people now that pick up our kids because a lot 397 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 4: of them, the families don't want to risk going out. 398 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 4: We all have lawyers on speed dial, you know. 399 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 5: We know what to say if one of these. 400 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 4: Guys with the mask shows up, and we try not 401 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 4: to let that impede what the kids are doing. We 402 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 4: tried to make it so their life on the field 403 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 4: is as normal as we can make it. 404 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: I caught up with Nielli as well. 405 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 3: She's still in La still coaching the girls at the 406 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 3: Downtown Club, and she told me that since the ice 407 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 3: rate started, she's been doing even more car pools. 408 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: I kind of a full car nowadays. 409 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 6: Sometimes we have to switch to a bigger car so 410 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 6: that we could fill. 411 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 5: All of them. 412 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 6: But like, more and more girls end up needing rights, 413 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 6: But there's never an issue like us that we're privileged 414 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 6: to be able to have papers and just making sure 415 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 6: we're there for them and understanding that sometimes they won't 416 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 6: be able to show up to practice. So in a 417 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 6: sense it has affected them because we see less and 418 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 6: less parents and maybe like some players are missing out 419 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 6: on practices, but it's very understanding. 420 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 3: At the end of June, the club's permit to use 421 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 3: the facilities that John Lathy Middle School wasn't renewed by 422 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 3: Los Angeles Unified School District or LAUSD. Now they're asking 423 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 3: for four times the price Miking Naielli's teams had been paying. 424 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 5: Which we can't afford. 425 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 4: So what they're doing is they're starting to lease the 426 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 4: fields to the much more affluent clubs from communities in 427 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 4: Orange County and stuff and basically kicking the kids win 428 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 4: the community off the fields. We're basically the only team 429 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 4: of Hispanic girls out there. 430 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 5: You know, we're playing a bunch of white kids. 431 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: Have you tried to fight back? Is there a legal 432 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 1: action you could take? 433 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,679 Speaker 4: I have a pro bono law firm working on it. 434 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 4: I've had multiple meetings with school board. LAOS is a 435 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 4: huge conglomerate. It's the second biggest school district in the country, 436 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 4: and we're just like annoyances to them. 437 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 3: We reached out to LAUSD officials and while they didn't 438 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 3: give us an interview, they sent us a written statement. 439 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 3: They said that while the club's girls teams do qualify 440 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 3: under this special deal that allows them to rent the 441 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 3: facilities for much cheaper as a community group, the boys 442 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 3: teams don't qualify anymore. I won't go into all the 443 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 3: details because there's a lot of back and forth between 444 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 3: the school district and the club, But in the end, 445 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 3: LAUSD said they offered the girls teams a quote suitable 446 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 3: alternative location, but it's not in downtown, it's in South Central. 447 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 3: Mix says LAUSD has not provided evidence for disqualifying the 448 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 3: boys teams, and that the new location in South Central 449 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 3: is quote a far cry from a suitable location. He 450 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 3: told me in an email that this alternative is in 451 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 3: an area where there have been many ice rates recently, 452 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 3: and for many families, it's simply too risky. I remember 453 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 3: when I was there and the way you talked about 454 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 3: the field. 455 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 1: You said, this is a safe space for them. 456 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I wonder what does it mean to lose 457 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 3: that safe space. 458 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 6: I think losing a safe space is kind of like 459 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 6: being thrown to the wools now, because it's like, oh, like, 460 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 6: what was once our home isn't anymore, and that could 461 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 6: be scary for a lot of people. I feel like 462 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 6: around John Letty, it's very Hispanic. It just felt kind 463 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 6: of like home and like the heart of downtown almost. 464 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 6: How is it that a field that was with us, 465 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 6: that was supposed to connect everybody in the community is 466 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 6: like now being ripped away from us. 467 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 3: Do you think there's any chance you will get access 468 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 3: to the field again? 469 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:24,880 Speaker 4: Yes, I think because I don't give up very easily. 470 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 3: Being stubborn is one of the things making Nielli have 471 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 3: most in common. Nielli isn't giving up either, because nothing 472 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 3: beats how it feels when you step on the turf 473 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 3: and you score and you win. 474 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 6: The game. It was just excitement that rushed through our 475 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 6: bodies that I remember. I took up my jersey and 476 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 6: I'm like waving it in the air, and I go 477 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:47,719 Speaker 6: to my mom, I go to my grandma and I'm like, oh, 478 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 6: Lolo Ramos, you know, like we did it, like after 479 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 6: years of trying, like we did it. 480 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 3: And that feeling is what keeps her fighting for her team, 481 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 3: her family and all the young Latinas that will come 482 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:00,479 Speaker 3: after her. 483 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 2: This episode was produced by Marta Martinez, with production assistants 484 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 2: by Diego Perdomo. It was edited by our managing editor 485 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:33,360 Speaker 2: Fernando Echavari. It was mixed by Gabriela Bayez. In fact 486 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 2: checking for this episode by Rosanna Aguire. The Latino USA 487 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 2: team also includes Julia Caruso, Jessica Ellis, Victoria Estrada, Rinaldo, 488 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 2: Leanoz Junior, Stephanie Lebau, Andre Lopez Gruzado, Luis Luna, Glori 489 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 2: mar Marquez, Julieta Martinelli, Monica Morales, Garcia, J. J. Rubin 490 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 2: and Nancy Trujillo. Penille Ramirez and I are co executive 491 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 2: producers and I'm your host, Mariano Josa. Latino You say 492 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 2: is part of iheart'smich Udura podcast network. Executive producers of 493 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 2: iHeart are Leogo mis and ur Lean Santana. Join us 494 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 2: the end on our next episode. In the meantime, I'll 495 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 2: see you on all of our social media and of course, 496 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:18,640 Speaker 2: dear listener, so easy, so affordable, Join Futuro Plus. What 497 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 2: you get is to listen to this ad free and 498 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 2: you get bonus episodes, special virtual events and lots of cheesemay. Also, 499 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 2: you're going to support the organization that makes the journalism 500 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 2: that you love. So Girasias and join Futuru Plus. 501 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 8: Latino USA is made possible in part by California Endowment. 502 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 8: Building a strong state by improving the health of all Californians. 503 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 8: The Anie Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the 504 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 8: nation's children by strengthening families, building greater economic opportunity, and 505 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 8: transforming communities and funding for Latino USA is Coverage of 506 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 8: a culture of health is made possible in part by 507 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 8: a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.