What is your favorite cheer?
One of our favorite rallying cheers is a simple question, "Who are we," the response to which is a resounding "DC!" We are teachers and stylists, students and scientists, lawyers and service industry workers, engineers, construction managers, interior designers, social workers, businesspeople, and SO much more. We span several initials in the LGBTQ+ alphabet, as well as multiple gender identities and races. We are military and civilian, Republican, Democrat, and Independent alike. We are parents, children, siblings, and family, given and chosen, seeking to leave the world a better place than we found it. We acknowledge and celebrate our differences while uniting through our common goals. We are, both as individuals and a team, works in progress, much like our namesake city and all the powerful potential it holds. We are volunteers and cheerleaders in equal measure, using our sport to spread awareness for important issues, and presenting a visible, unmistakable display of love and cheer for those who need it. We are Cheer DC, and we are honored to be on this journey as part of PCA.
Take us back in time. How did Cheer DC start? What compelled you to join PCA?
Cheer DC (or something like it) has actually cropped up a few times since the early 2000s! It wasn't, however, until the team gained new and unbridled energy in the shape of a former Cheer Seattle member that it really stuck. This inborn connection to other PCA teams ignited the desire to create an organization that could extend its mission to the DC region, and PCA provided the roadmap to build our own local charitable cheerleading team. With the guidance and motivation of our beloved former President, the organization we now know and love as Cheer DC was founded and designated as a 501(c)(3), the intention of formally joining PCA a foundational goal. Being a part of this larger network has been invaluable!
How has Cheer DC grown and changed since it joined PCA? What is shaping your future?
Nobody could have anticipated the amazing turnout we had for our first tryouts, and we have been incredibly lucky to maintain a sizable roster of wonderful, dedicated humans ever since. While our enrollment has remained stable, however, our organization as a whole has grown and matured far past our infancy, thanks in part to the guidance, resources, and support provided by PCA proper and the entire PCA network. Our business operations and processes have been well informed by those of other member teams, from dues, to social media, to hourly requirements, and even to schedules for disciplinary action (which have thankfully only been needed sparingly). The last two years have been a challenge, for sure, but we feel extremely fortunate that we are still here to cheer, largely because we had this infrastructure in place prior to the pandemic and a support network throughout. Regarding the future... it would be easy to be disheartened. Domestic trans-phobic laws are popping up left and right, international conflicts are rising, and pan-health and humanitarian crises are unyielding. So, yeah, the future can seem quite daunting, but we've found some solace in expanding our reach to accommodate new and/or pressing needs. In reality, we know our contributions are probably a drop in the bucket compared to what is truly needed, but it feels important, somehow, to try. So we're trying! We are following the news, researching new potential beneficiaries, hosting more fundraisers, and continuing to support our LGBTQ+ youth, all while trying to make additional space for at least some of the other equally deserving humans in need of assistance. While the future will always remain uncertain, we guess you could say that we are guided by our hope for healthier tomorrows and our determination to help make those tomorrows more just. In any case, we'll be here to cheer for those who need it.
A question from our Equity and Inclusion Committee: You are in our country’s political epicenter! What have you learned about advocating for impactful change without crossing the lines of 501(c)(3) limitations on political action?
This is an incredibly powerful question, and an issue we haven't always navigated well. The DMV (that's DC, MD, and VA) is such a unique mixture of local, national, and international peoples and influences - and then you add in the politics and it just becomes this fascinating microcosm of humanity. With so many ideas in close proximity, it's almost impossible to advocate for something without feeling like you're stepping on someone else's toes. In the beginning, our organization was very hesitant to approach anything that could possibly be misconstrued as political action out of an abundance of caution for our 501(c)(3) status. Quite frankly, we maintained this standoffish approach for far too long, not fully understanding the rules and implications as a group of volunteer athletes with full-time jobs and other expertise far outside the nonprofit realm. It became clear this couldn't last, however, when we started to question our ability to support issues that were not inherently political despite attempted politicization - for example, posting in support of Black Lives Matter or mask usage and vaccines. Fortunately, we had members who were unafraid to question these stances, pushing us to find the answers so we could act fully in accordance with our mission. What we've learned is that we can publicly support almost anything, barring direct endorsement or opposition for and/or contributions to specific candidates, and lobbying to influence legislation. We've also learned that not all voices should be given equal space, especially those that seek to do harm. We can advocate and proclaim support for or against causes, educate our members and followers, and elevate key voices in important discussions on equity and equality - be it race, gender, sexuality, or some other characteristic. We are still cautious of the thin line between some forms of advocacy and lobbying, but we feel mostly empowered by this lesson learned to be better advocates and cheerleaders, hoping to help others to be the same.
