LA Rams Robert Rochell & JuJu Hughes; My Cause My Cleats and RISE with the Rams

When RISE educates on how sport can be a vehicle for change we often explore the different ways athletes and teams can leverage their platforms to raise awareness around critical issues, and one powerful example is by wearing special apparel. This season, select players and staff from the Los Angeles Rams are wearing custom-made RISE cleats during the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign to raise awareness for our mission to end racism and champion social justice. The driving force behind the Rams support for RISE is our joint community leadership program, RISE with the Rams, which is running for the fourth consecutive year. RISE with the Rams brings together athletes and coaches from five Los Angeles area high school football teams that represent a cross section of racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The goal of the program is to develop leadership, understanding, acceptance and cultural competence for high school athletes, coaches and Los Angeles Police Department officers. In this conversation, RISE’s Dr. Collin Williams sits down with Rams defensive backs Robert Rochell and JuJu Hughes, who are wearing RISE cleats for My Cause My Cleats during the Rams home game on Sunday, December 5. They’re joined by three high school football coaches who are part of this year’s RISE with the Rams program: Cisco Saldana of MaCES, Jacob Ochoa of Glendale High School and Daniel Davidson of Western High School. Juju and Robert share their personal experiences dealing with racism and why they chose to support RISE and our mission through My Cause, My Cleats this season. The group also discusses topics such as bias and stereotypes, the importance of education around issues of racism and the impact RISE with the Rams is having by empowering young athletes to be leaders for racial justice and inclusion in their communities.