A Lesson in Thriving.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
Earlier this week, my colleague Sadie Lockhart shared her secret for a flourishing garden. After neatly planting her rows of vegetable plants, she scatters wildflower seeds, somewhat haphazardly, between those rows. The technique is designed to introduce biodiversity, which brings more bees to the garden, which in turn helps cross-pollinate the vegetable plants and makes the entire garden grow stronger.
Brilliant. And what a lovely little metaphor for the power of diversity and interconnectedness in our lives.
Sadie is both an exceptional gardener and the spark for this week’s good news story—not about gardens, actually, but soccer fields, and why interconnectedness is as good for our vegetables as it is for our lives.
Which brings us to Soccer Without Borders, a California-based nonprofit founded in 2006 with the belief that soccer can connect people across divides. The group uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing young people with tools to grow, build community, and be successful.
Working with refugees, immigrants, and newcomers representing dozens of countries, Soccer Without Borders uses the sport to erase barriers (often of language) and build connections (often across divided groups), fostering more diverse and thriving communities in the process.
Like Sadie's garden, their work requires more than "sprinkling seeds of diversity" and waiting to see what takes hold. Instead, their impact comes from programming: the tone they set, the questions they ask, the way they welcome feedback. Their six mantras—like “We’re glad you’re here” —create psychological safety and affirm that every member, from young people to coaches, belongs. They make room for all identities by prioritizing participants’ voices—even involving them in hiring staff and resource decisions. Soccer Without Borders calls it equity in practice, not just theory—a practice they keep even in moments of political pressure.
As the San Francisco Chronicle covered a few weeks ago, when federal immigration policy shifted, many families in the Bay Area of California faced fear. Rather than retreat, Soccer Without Borders responded by strengthening its role as a sanctuary. Coaches adapted practice schedules, limited exposure, held tough conversations, and stayed close to young people who needed stability, like a garden of protectors.
To believe in diversity and interconnectedness is to ALWAYS believe in that power, not just when it’s easy or convenient. Soccer Without Borders is a lovely reminder that bringing people together across divides is like planting a garden—the more diverse and interconnected we are from the start, the more fruitful we can be.
Bottom line: In complex times, we need more than big vision and bold words to create change. We need spaces where interconnectedness and shared purpose can flourish. So, how might you plant seeds of connecting in your community this fall? And what might blossom as a result?
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
