A conversation on access, opportunity, and using soccer to change communities.

Hosts

Megan
Liam

About This Episode

In 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 removed

Notable 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: @soccerstreets

Nonprofit 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