Harnessing the Mega-Decade of Sports to Transform Afterschool

Mega‑sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games don't just captivate the globe—they spark movements, inspire young people, and catalyze new opportunities for learning and connection. This plenary session will explore how the surge of energy around soccer and other sports can and should be felt in afterschool programs everywhere.

A dynamic panel featuring Ed Foster‑Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, alongside professional athletes and sports leaders, will discuss why this is a pivotal moment for the afterschool field—and how we can leverage the power of play to support whole‑child development, community well‑being, and greater access to high‑quality opportunities.

The conversation will highlight the transformative role of coach‑mentorship and the Foundation's Yes, Coach! initiative, which equips coaches with training, positive youth development tools, and the support needed to create safe and empowering spaces for all young people. As sports gain global attention over the coming decade, strengthening the adults who guide youth becomes essential to ensuring this momentum translates into meaningful and lasting impact.

Attendees will walk away with insights on:

• Why major events like the World Cup create unique openings for youth engagement
• How afterschool programs can use sports as an engine for connection, confidence, and community
• The power of coach‑mentorship and how initiatives like Yes, Coach! elevate program quality
• Practical tools, models, and partnerships to strengthen sports programming

This is more than a sports moment—it's a youth development moment. Come learn how afterschool can help ensure the legacy of the World Cup is felt by every young person.

PresenterS

Moderator: Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Washington, DC
Panelists: Christopher Jefferson, Chief Program Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; Jen Munoz, Former Professional Soccer Player, Los Angeles, CA; Amobi Okugo, Former Professional Soccer Player, Sacramento, CA

Ed Foster-Simeon

A champion of soccer as a vehicle for youth development and social change, Ed Foster-Simeon was named President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation in May 2008. He has more than three decades of experience at the local, state, and national level of the game and has been an active member of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2004.

Under his leadership, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has become a nationally recognized leader in sports-based youth development. The organization places a special emphasis on programs that improve health and social outcomes among children in underserved communities. The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s work was recognized with the 2010 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy which is presented by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans. The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s work also earned a prestigious Social Innovation Fund award, in the Healthy Futures portfolio, multiple Justice Department Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Multi-State Mentoring awards, and the Role Model Award by Football is More, a global non-profit.

A recognized expert in sports-based youth development, Foster-Simeon often speaks on the power of soccer as a vehicle for youth development and social change. His published work includes articles for Fast Company, where he has written about the societal opportunities surrounding major sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup and USA Today where he wrote about utilizing youth sport coaches as a solution to helping improve youth mental health. He has also authored pieces for Savoy Magazine, including his article “Soccer as a Vehicle for Social Change,” which explores the sport’s potential to drive community impact and corporate responsibility.

Christopher Jefferson

Christopher Jefferson is a nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience advancing youth development and community well-being across Los Angeles County. As Chief Program Officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, he leads the strategy, design, and delivery of programs that reach tens of thousands of children, teens, and families each year. His work focuses on expanding access, strengthening belonging, and aligning programs with the lived needs of communities. Chris has played a key role in shaping the YMCA's Cradle to Community Well-Being Youth Development Strategy, a comprehensive framework that guides impact from early childhood through young adulthood. Over the course of his career, he has led large-scale initiatives across early education, expanded learning, day camp, youth sports, teen engagement, and family programming. He serves as chair of Girls Empowerment Day and Healthy Kids Day: A Day of Play for LA, two of the region's largest youth development events, which together engage tens of thousands of participants annually. Chris works in close partnership with school districts, public agencies, and community-based organizations to strengthen collective impact and advance long-term outcomes for children and families.

Jen Munoz

Jen Munoz is a former standout D1 soccer player from the University of New Mexico and a former professional player for Mexico City's Club America. Beyond her achievements on the field, she is a leading content creator and on-camera personality as one of the faces of women's soccer. Through her entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic work, Jen bridges the US and Mexico communities, inspiring Hispanic youth to pursue careers in sports.

Amobi Okugo

Amobi Okugo is the oldest of four siblings, born in Hayward, California, and proudly raised in Sacramento as a first-generation Nigerian American. For over a decade, Amobi played over 200 competitive matches across multiple teams, including Philadelphia, Orlando, Kansas City, Portland, Austin Bold, and the USMNT Youth Teams, including the 2012 Olympic Qualifying Team. He represented his teammates as a Team Captain and Player Representative, successfully negotiated improved player rights, and winning trophies like Open Cup Champion (2015), Western Conference Winners (2017), Copa de Tejas (2019) and others.

Playing professionally meant forgoing his hard-earned full ride scholarship to UCLA, a choice unfathomable to his Nigerian born parents. Needless to say, his mother made him promise he would finish his degree. Amobi kept his word. His mom is happy to report that not only does he have a Bachelors degree, he has a Masters too. He has studied at incredible institutions such as UCLA, University of Louisville, Harvard Business School, Columbia University and more. Amobi is a proud Board member for the Afterschool Alliance. 

Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events, including all meals and all workshops.