Fresh Perspectives

Longtime Houston Dynamo community relations leader, Valerie Holland, joins the podcast to break down the evolution of the community impact space in MLS, the surge of energy the World Cup brought to Houston as a host city, and how she's used soccer to uplift the communities around her.

Valerie has spent 12 years with the Houston Dynamo & Dash, entering her 13th season, building the club's community relations department from the ground up. Having worked across the NHL and NBA before soccer, she shares the unique position MLS holds as an entrepreneurial leader in philanthropic investment.

Growing up wanting to be a teacher, Valerie reflects on how that instinct still shapes her work today—from exposing kids to career paths in sports beyond playing to building programs tailored to Houston's underserved communities.

The three discuss what makes a program actually stick with kids, the immense power of players as mentors, and the strength of partnerships in creating greater impact for all instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

What is Fresh Perspectives?

Dive into Fresh Perspectives: Conversations with All-Star Innovators in Education, a podcast dedicated to connecting with the visionaries and organizations driving change in education through disruptive and innovative approaches. Join Learn Fresh’s Nick Monzi and Calvin Sibert as they explore a range of topics—from racial and gender equity to social-emotional learning and the evolving educational landscape. Discover more about our work at learnfresh.org.