adidas Community Lab graduates new cohort of social entrepreneurs advancing equitable access to sports across the U.S. and Canada
adidas Community Lab graduates 2024-2025 cohort of social entrepreneurs advancing equitable access to sports across five key cities: Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, New York City, and Toronto. All ten participating organizations received $75,000 in funding, a $10,000 public relations grant, and competed for additional funding in the program’s final pitch competition.
- Impact Hub Network
- Global team
The 2024-2025 adidas Community [LAB], in partnership with Impact Hub, i.e. Industry Education, and Black Ambition, supports Black and Latino/a/e social entrepreneurs by providing resources, funding, and education. This year’s program graduated ten organizations, each receiving $75,000 in nondilutive funding. The program concluded with a pitch competition, awarding additional funding to three winners: $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second, and $10,000 for third. All cohort participants received an additional $10,000 grant for public relations (PR) services to help them amplify their impact on this next phase.
Achievements of the program
This year, the adidas Community Lab successfully graduated all ten of its participating organizations. Each group received comprehensive support, including:
- Weekly entrepreneurship workshops
- Special meetups for community building
- Pitch support to refine their business presentations
- Mentorship from industry leaders
- Numerous networking opportunities to amplify their work
Beyond these resources, each organization was awarded $75,000 in non dilutive funding to further their initiatives. The eight-month curriculum culminated into a pitch competition where participants presented their projects to adidas’ Senior Leadership Team, key business partners, and other community leaders. From this event, three winners were selected to receive additional funding:
- First Place, Karina Martinez, Founder and CEO at DRAFTED – $25,000 Prize
- Second Place, Javana Mundy Quesada & Vidal Quesada, Co-Founders at La Familia Project – $15,000 Prize
- Third Place, Jamal Burger, Founder and CEO at The Kickback Foundation – $10,000 Prize
Drafted
Karina Martinez (she/her), born in Asuncion, Paraguay, and raised in Southern California by Cuban immigrant parents, is a proud queer Latina whose career is built on the power of innovation and inclusivity. After six successful years running her first startup, Karina felt a deep need to align her professional expertise with her passion for sports.
In 2023, she co-founded DRAFTED with Jennifer Yepez-Blundell, launching the first Latina sports media company with a mission to promote Latina visibility in sports. Karina is driven by the belief that representation transforms lives. What excites her most is DRAFTED’s ability to tell the untold stories of Latinas in sports, making them feel seen, valued, and empowered. Her work is fueled by the joy of helping others embrace their authentic selves in spaces that celebrate diversity.
At DRAFTED, their mission is clear: to ensure Latinas are never invisible in sports again. They leverage the power of storytelling and community to bring their narratives to the forefront, paving the way for a new future in sports where Latinas are seen and valued. The current sports ecosystem often excludes Latinas, limiting their participation, career opportunities, and sense of belonging as fans. Their vision is to build their own inclusive ecosystem—a house of brands focused on these three critical areas. By addressing these barriers, they aim to empower Latinas and create lasting, meaningful opportunities across the sports world.
“As a founder, you're often so deep in execution that you lose sight of the bigger vision. This program gave me that rare pause to reflect and reimagine DRAFTED's true potential. When adidas chose us for first place, it confirmed something powerful: Latinas aren't just participating in sports culture—we're defining its future.“
La Familia Project
La Familia Project is a Community-Based After School and Enrichment Program provider offering Youth, Young Adult, and Senior programming year-round. LFP specializes in Sports, Arts, and Wellness Workshops for schools and community centers. The program sets out to offer underserved communities free programming through their partnerships that teach different skills and tools that these disciplines have to offer, while also providing resources, support, and partnerships with mental health practitioners.
La Familia Project’s purpose is to provide the necessary tools and resources their community needs to have a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through the programming they offer. By pairing a Social Emotional Learning Curriculum with all of their programs, they aim to help the youth discover personal tools to navigate and develop self-care, self-awareness, and a healthy affirmation of their own identity.
“Winning second place in the adidas Community Lab was not only empowering and uplifting but also affirming. Over the past three years, the journey has often felt isolating and overwhelming due to minimal support. While it is clear that the work we do is beneficial to the community we serve—evidenced by their feedback highlighting its impact—it can be challenging to maintain consistency when financial resources are scarce. This struggle can make it daunting to continue. This recognition has provided the necessary boost to move forward. The support we received was not just financial; it equipped us with the knowledge, tools, and insight essential for structuring our org effectively. It illuminates a path toward stability, not only for us but also for how we can show up for the community, enabling them to better show up for themselves."
The Kickback Foundation
The Kickback Foundation is a nonprofit established in 2016 by Jamal Burger to empower youth with dreams but limited resources. The foundation creates and shares inspiring stories, mentorship programs, and educational resources tailored for underserved communities. It leverages the power of media and community as tools for social impact and empowerment.
Kickback’s vision is to establish a world where all youth have the confidence and skills to achieve their dreams. The mission is to break down barriers for underserved youth, using sports, arts, and education to help them reimagine their future and become change makers in their communities. Their approach is to be as close to the youth as possible, ensuring that their programs are culturally sensitive and representative of the communities they serve.
“Impact Hub and adidas are doing something I've never seen before. It has shifted how I see adidas and community work, and it inspires me to think about how I can make impact globally and follow in the footsteps of this innovative program.”
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 adidas Community Lab graduates!
Houston, TX
- Samad Hinton (he/him) & Kelly Hubbell-Hinton (she/her) – BLK Beetles: BLK Beetles’ mission is to make wellness joy achievable for all. By alleviating social isolation through meaningful connections within an equitable and restorative wellness ecosystem, BLK Beetles focuses on fostering a sense of belonging through community-centered outdoor experiences and a streaming platform.
- Andrea Brown (she/her) – The Gifted Collective: The Gifted Collective is a communications consultancy that empowers athletes from underrepresented communities by equipping them with essential skills to maximize their voice, manage NIL deals, and build a sustainable future on and off the field.
Toronto, ON
- Heather Alonzo (she/her) – Ball Her Way (BHW): Ball Her Way aims to break barriers, foster inclusivity, and promote gender equality in basketball by providing visibility, spaces, and support for women and girls, encouraging their participation and empowerment both on and off the court. They are dedicated to transcending limitations and fostering inclusivity in the basketball community.
- Jamal Burger (he/him) & Rachel Hale (she/her) – Kickback: Kickback’s vision is to establish a world where all youth have the confidence and skills to achieve their dreams. The mission is to break down barriers for underserved youth, using sports, arts, and education to help them reimagine their future and become change makers in their communities.
Atlanta, GA
- Moÿo Akinade (he/him) – Atlanta Adaptive Soccer Foundation: The mission of Atlanta Adaptive Soccer Foundation is to provide individuals with physical disabilities access to the sport of soccer. Through clinics, speaking events, and practices, they strive to empower their participants to develop their physical and technical skills while creating lasting friendships and becoming active members of their communities.
- A.R. Cooper (he/him) – Art In The Paint: Art In The Paint is dedicated to enhancing community well-being and public health through the transformative power of art and athletics. Their mission centers on using art and athletics to mobilize communities, promoting a higher quality of life and inspiring equitable play.
New York City, NY
- Rich Rodriguez (he/him) – Harlem Free Fight Academy: Harlem Free Fight Academy is a nonprofit providing free boxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu training to teens in NYC and using combat sports as a tool to mentor their youth.
- Vidal Quesada Guzman (he/him) & Javana Mundy Quesada (she/they) – La Familia Project: La Familia Project is community based year round Sports, Arts, & Wellness programming for youth, young adults, and seniors. LFP embodies the ethos of “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind,” aiming to offer free enrichment programming, wellness initiatives, and mental health resources to underserved communities throughout NYC through its citywide partnerships.
Los Angeles, CA
- Jessa Williams (she/her) – INTRSXTN Surf: INTRSXTN Surf creates a safe space for Black women and WOC to experience the transformative power of surfing and offers instructional programming for beginners who have never surfed before and ongoing community programming to support women through their surf journey.
- Karina Martinez (she/her) – DRAFTED: DRAFTED, their mission is clear: to ensure Latinas are never invisible in sports again. They leverage the power of storytelling and community to bring their narratives to the forefront, paving the way for a new future in sports where Latinas are seen and valued.
Looking ahead
The adidas Community Lab aims to continue supporting entrepreneurs in realizing their ideas and surpassing their aspirations. By providing resources, funding, and mentorship, adidas and the Impact Hub Network have empowered these social entrepreneurs to drive positive change in their communities. As adidas continues to dismantle systemic barriers, their commitment to active change through sport and community engagement remains a core principle, extending beyond design innovation.
“Growing up, sports saved my life. That’s why it’s been especially meaningful to support diverse founders who are creating opportunities through sport and rewriting what access looks like in our communities. I’m incredibly proud of the growth we’ve witnessed and look forward to the ripple effect of their impact.”
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