AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce their role as the title sponsor of the 2020 Michigan Collegiate Soccer Society ‘The Future of U.S. Soccer’ Conference. In addition to serving as title sponsor, the club will also be involved in multiple panels, including co-owner Mike Lorenc joining the Business of the Beautiful Game panel, and Building Anti-Racist Soccer Clubs, featuring club Chair, Bilal Saeed. The virtual conference is a one-day day-long event on November 14th, and will feature speakers such as Alexi Lalas, Grant Wahl, Maurice Edu and Becky Sauerbrunn, among many others. The event is free to attend but you must reserve your spot in advance by registering online in advance.
Avi Rajendra-Nicolucci, Co-President of the Collegiate Soccer Society, said, “The Collegiate Soccer Society at Michigan is proud to be sponsored by our local club, AFC Ann Arbor, for The Future of U.S. Soccer Conference. The virtual conference will be a unique way for anyone interested in soccer to connect with industry leaders.”
Alongside CSS, AFCAA have helped coordinate the panel on Building Anti-Racist Soccer Clubs. Rajendra-Nicolucci said on the panel, “This panel will provide actionable steps to eradicating racism from the beautiful game, an initiative that we are strongly committed to as an organization.” The panel will be hosted by acclaimed soccer journalist Fletcher Sharpe and will feature Saeed along with Brandon Miller, currently a goalkeeper with the USL Championship’s Charlotte Independence and a member of the Executive Committee of the USL Black Players Alliance. Dr. Kristi Oshiro, Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Belmont University and former softball player at East Carolina University, along with Dr. Anthony Weems, Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Western Carolina University will both be joining the panels as representatives from The Sporting Justice Collective, a cooperative platform designed to bring together scholars, athletes, and activists from around the world, while creating equitable change through sport with an emphasis on anti-racist and anti-colonial practices.
On his involvement, Miller, a nine-year pro in the USL that along with his on-the-field work also is involved with several non-profit organizations in Charlotte as well as his own business, says, “I'm really looking forward to discussing this topic with everyone on the panel. Developing a model to build anti-racist soccer clubs is important because it will open doors for a large group of talented people who want to be involved in sports.” He would also add, “It's not enough for clubs to put out statements and say they are against racism. It has to be at the core of their beliefs and their development as a club.”
The event will start on November 14th at 9 AM and is set to end at 5 PM. The panel on Building Anti-Racist Soccer Clubs will run from 2:30-3:30 PM. We look forward to a day full of interesting conversation and important topics being discussed and hope you will be able to join us.