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Pathways to Employment
SWB’s approach includes scaffolded mentorship as part of the continuum of support provided to youth as they transition from high school into post-secondary education and employment.
Not only are 30% of our staff program alumni but we also have paid youth leaders across all of our communities where we deliver high quality youth services that continue to work in sports as referees, coaches, league coordinators, tournament operations, and equipment management to name a few roles. These roles reinforce lifelong employability skills and competencies that the job market values.
Did You Know?
A significant number of professional sports leagues in the United States are made up of immigrant labor.
NHL
Nearly 70% of National Hockey League players are foreign born
EPL
66-69% of English Premier League players are foreign born
MLS
Nearly 60% of Major League Soccer players are foreign born
NWSL
31% of National Women's Soccer League players are foreign born
MLB
Nearly 28% of Major League Baseball players are foreign born
NBA
23% of National Basketball Association players are foreign born
In 2025:
Regardless of their path to the United States, these immigrant athletes had to navigate the complex U.S. immigration system including adapting to a new life in a new country, often speaking a new language. And their experiences, not dissimilar from SWB youth.
“The increase in foreign-born players appears to have
helped native-born NBA players, since bringing in top talent and increasing the league’s appeal around the world has been a key to the NBA’s success.”
Yet, the non-athlete sport ecosystem is a white, male-dominated, multibillion-dollar industry characterized by a severe lack of racial and gender diversity among its leaders and in all levels of collegiate and professional sports, white men represent the upper echelon in leadership, front office, and coaching positions according to North American Society for Sport Management. Currently:
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Only 2% of sports governing body presidents are women
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Black head coaches make up less than 3% of all head coaching positions in major professional leagues
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35% of sports industry leadership positions are held by minorities
The SWB Vision
SWB envisions creating systems change by generating a pipeline of young leaders that will challenge current statistics.
SWB starts with developmentally appropriate employment within SWB that builds skills to reach beyond our walls and engage with the sports ecosystem, at-large, with the relevant market skills and diverse perspectives that will benefit front and back offices and boardrooms of the professional sports industry.
Get Involved
Ready to take the next step? Whether you’re looking to volunteer, give, or connect with local programs, there are so many ways to support underserved youth and bring our mission to life.
