Our Empowerment Cycle
From Players to Leaders
The Empowerment Cycle is the foundation of Open Goal Project’s approach to youth development and workforce development, a strategy that is core to ultimately positioning our student-athletes to achieve upward social mobility.
As our student-athletes grow into their teenage years, they begin taking on leadership roles through the Empowerment Cycle. High school students earn community service hours while serving as Junior Assistant Coaches and Program Assistants, supporting younger teams and learning the fundamentals of coaching and mentorship. Upon graduation, these young leaders transition into paid staff roles, where they are given increasing levels of responsibility and professional development.
This progression provides real work experience, skill-building, and a platform to leverage for future long-term employment, while ensuring our programs are led by the very individuals who have grown within them.
A Sustainable Model for Community Change
The Empowerment Cycle creates a ripple effect of impact: every generation of Open Goal Project participants helps build the next. By investing in our youth not only as student-athletes but as future coaches, educators, and community leaders, we are creating a self-sustaining system of empowerment rooted in representation and opportunity.
