Episode 34 | Janine Willis (Soccer in the Streets)

A conversation on access, opportunity, and using soccer to change communities.HostsMeganLiamAbout This EpisodeIn Episode 34 of The Soccer Ladder, we sit down with Janine Willis, former Canadian Women’s National Team player and Board of Directors member for Soccer in the Streets (@soccerstreets).From her journey playing at Princeton and with the Canadian National Team to now helping lead one of the most impactful soccer nonprofits in the country, Janine shares how soccer can become a vehicle for access, mobility, mentorship, and community transformation.We dive into Atlanta’s pay-to-play challenges, youth development, mental health, social-emotional learning, and how Soccer in the Streets is creating safe spaces where every child can thrive. In This Episode Janine Willis’ journey from Canada to the collegiate and national team level  Growing up playing on boys teams due to limited girls infrastructure  Playing Division I soccer at Princeton University  Transitioning from soccer into law school and life after sport  Why identity outside of soccer matters for young athletes  The realities of pay-to-play and the participation gap in youth soccer  Why Atlanta ranks among the highest in income inequality  How Soccer in the Streets is using soccer to create opportunity  Inside the organization’s “Station Soccer” initiative near MARTA transit stations  How public transportation access impacts youth participation  Bringing soccer directly into underserved schools and communities  The importance of social-emotional learning in youth sports  Trauma-informed coaching and mentorship  Opening circles, closing circles, and teaching values like grit and joy  Creating pathways beyond playing through referee and coaching development  Building community ecosystems through soccer programming Key Takeaways✔ Soccer should be accessible to every child ✔ Development is about building the whole person, not just the player ✔ Identity outside of sport matters for long-term well-being ✔ Community and mentorship can change the trajectory of a child’s life ✔ The game can create economic and social mobility when barriers are removedNotable Mentions: Princeton University  Canadian Women’s National Team  MARTA transit system in Atlanta  Station Soccer initiative  Social-emotional learning in sports  Pay-to-play barriers in youth soccer Connect:Soccer in the Streets 📸 Instagram: @soccerstreetsNonprofit organization equipping Atlanta’s youth through soccer programming, building connections, and providing safe spaces where every child can thrive.🎙 Hosted by @meganlinkeofficial & @liamlinke18 🎧 Listen now on The Soccer Ladder