Danielle Lugo is an Up2Us Sports Program Manager in the Los Angeles region and was recently recognized as a 2023 Laureus Sport for Good Emerging Leader. 

Laureus Sport for Good is focused on equity and inclusion with the purpose is to change the world through the power of sport and ending violence, discrimination, and disadvantage to young people and children.

Sport for Good Emerging Leaders is a program for sports-based youth development (SBYD) leaders across the country which turns its participants into multi-hyphenates for SBYD non-profits. Additionally, Lugo was asked to be an ambassador for the program on the Athletic Brewing Co. podcast and expressed her excitement about the program and her future stating,

“Laureus is an incredible organization that does amazing work not only in the U.S. but internationally. I am excited to do more with the professional development that has been provided to me and I am thankful for the opportunity to learn new skills through the Sport for Good program and build my network within the SBYD field.”

The program gives preparation to take on new roles and responsibilities within an SBYD organization. Lugo is grateful for the opportunity and hopes to use her new skills to broaden what sports mean in the life of youth stating,

“The Sport for Good program gives the necessary tools to be better at running programs and running nonprofit programs and ensuring that we are making a difference through sport.”

Lugo is passionate about the SBYD field and wants to use sport as a way to uplift today’s youth. She looks at coaches as a driving force for good within a youth’s day-to-day life and knows the impacts that a good coach can have on an individual. Using Up2Us Sports coaches as a medium for change in a youth’s life Lugo states,

“Our coaches are sponges that take in our training and understanding of how much their words matter to our youth. They work to be intentional and patient with how they speak to the youth in a meaningful and impactful way.”

Additionally, Lugo knows that coaching in a compassionate manner helps not only the youth being coached but the coaches themselves stating,

“I see it all the time, where our coaches will be like, ‘oh my god that example reminds me of my daughter.’ I see them understand how intentionality makes a difference when they learn how to pause, reflect, take a breath, then say what they need to say in a more intentional way with their words.”

Lugo’s goal is to ensure that all athletes have access to quality instruction and a coach that is there for their physical and emotional well-being. She looks forward to her future within the SBYD field and the impact she can have stating,

“The sky’s the limit - coaches make such a difference in a kid's life on and off the field. I want to empower the coaches, teachers, and difference-makers in the world for as long as possible. The more coaches I can get trained in SBYD the more fulfilling it will be, I want to give everyone our training so everyone understands their role in a child's development and life in general.”

We congratulate Danielle Lugo on this tremendous opportunity and look forward to all she can accomplish at Up2Us Sports, in the SBYD field and beyond.