Today, Lansing Common officially becomes a member of the Anti-Racist Soccer Club (ARSC) coalition. Lansing Common is a club for the community, built by the community, and dedicated to celebrating the rich soccer culture in the Lansing area by combining soccer with impact in our community.
We know that without actively engaging in the work of anti-racism we cannot be the force for the good we strive to be. We also know the history of businesses and sports teams making empty proclamations and hollow commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. That’s why it’s important to us that accountability is part of the ARSC process, and that our 10-point plan is a public document, as well as an invitation for people in our community to join us in our efforts, let us know whose work we can amplify and support, and let us know when we’re falling short.
When Lansing Common announced last summer that the club was seeking community input to inform its plan as part of membership in the ARSC coalition, the club received responses from all across Lansing and the region. To the Board, and the committed group of members and volunteers who spent the following months turning that input into a 10-point plan to guide Lansing Common’s actions as part of the coalition, this was reinforcement that fans and people across the community are committed to working towards change and see the role that sports can play in combating racism in our communities.
“We are really excited to work with Lansing Common,” said ARSC Co-founder Brandon Miller. They are an organization that have shown a commitment to serving their community and using their platform as an organization to be a positive influence in the soccer space. I can’t wait to see more organizations like them join the coalition!”
The 10-point plan is not an end, it’s a beginning. As goals are met and new opportunities present themselves, the items in the plan may shift, but our commitment is to work alongside our players, our staff, our members, and our community to understand and address racism and its impacts in soccer and our community. You can read our 10-point plan on our website, and please contact us on social media or by email with questions, ideas, or to get involved.
As part of our ARSC membership, one of our home games this season will be ARSC Night at Lansing Common. This will be an opportunity to learn more about ARSC and opportunities to engage in our work as members of the coalition. The event will also feature a Juneteenth event in partnership with Black-led organizations and Black-led small businesses from Lansing, honoring Juneteenth and sharing opportunities to support local Juneteenth celebrations.
