Brianna Pinto is a rising soccer star. The Durham native has been a shining example of success from her time in the NCFC academy, through a standout career at UNC, to the U.S. Youth National Team and on the field for her hometown professional club. Highlight reel goals and Challenge Cup semifinal heroics make her a household name in Courage Country. At just 23 years old, Pinto has already impacted the highest levels of soccer in the United States. But her impact off the field is what truly makes her special. Her Pinto Futbol Foundation’s commitment to provide DEI opportunities for local youth in soccer has earned her the North Carolina Courage nomination for the 2023 Nationwide NWSL Community Impact Award. She consistently uses her platform to advocate for inclusion of all kinds. As a member of the U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, Pinto has been relentless in her efforts to increase funding and opportunity for the extended soccer teams, which include the CP team; a team for eligible qualifying players with Cerebral Palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury, the deaf national team, and the Power Soccer Team; the first competitive team sport developed specifically for powerchair users. This past weekend, she was able to share her passion for soccer, inclusion, and growing the game she loves the right way with a new, wider audience. She spoke on the ‘She Got Game’ panel at Revolt World, an immersive experiential opportunity to learn, network, and celebrate the world of Hip Hop and culture for young, aspiring businesspeople and entrepreneurs. Speaking on the WORLD Stage, a main platform at the event, Pinto contributed to a conversation on the power and impact of sport on culture and community. Moderated by journalist Jemele Hill, the panel included notable sports personalities. Alongside Pinto sat journalist and influencer Ashley Nicole Moss, the first black female to work on a NASCAR pit crew Brehanna Daniels, track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson, and NFL executive for DEI and author Chanelle Reynolds. “The experience was amazing and I’m so grateful for this opportunity. Getting to share my story alongside these incredible women and speak about our game, how far it has come, and where it can go was exhilarating,” Pinto said. Pinto spoke on her work on the Athletes’ Council, the work with her foundation – for which she is the North Carolina Courage nominee for the Nationwide NWSL Community Impact Award – as well as the opportunities to grow the game of soccer through popular cultural connection. “Brianna was incredible. So inspired by her commitment to breaking down the barriers that hinder young women of color from being involved in soccer,” Hill said via social media following the event. For Pinto, having the opportunity to speak to a large group in the cultural mecca of Atlanta was important. And with several major world and federation tournaments coming stateside in the next five years, there is no better time than the present to boost awareness of the beautiful game. “Atlanta is a hotbed for popular culture and has a huge soccer community. This was an opportunity to potentially introduce people to soccer and tie the sport to pop culture, which is a great way to grow a diverse fan base,” Pinto says. “With Copa América, the World Cup, and 2028 Olympics all coming to the United States over the next few years, we have a chance to highlight the diversity of the sport on the global level and hopefully inspire kids to get involved in soccer because they see their future selves in these athletes.” Speaking at Revolt World gave Pinto, who runs a foundation of her own, a chance to attend other seminars and opportunities for learning and networking. She attended a Podcast Pitch Competition, where podcasters vied for funding and support from the Revolt Podcast Network in front of a live audience. There were plenty of musical performances, panels on marketing and branding, business, and diversity – just to name a few – Mortal Kombat tournaments, and more. “One of my favorite seminars was with a sound engineer. He took three very different vocalists and showed us in real time how he adjusted pitch and blended the sounds together to create a song, which came out amazing. I was in awe. Sound engineers should be the billionaires,” Pinto quipped. Pinto gushed about the experience as both a speaker and attendee, noting the sense of community around the entire event was the biggest draw. “Everyone was so welcoming. Whether you were a speaker or just had a ticket, all the performers and speakers were so generous, and it was clear that everyone there truly wanted to see each other succeed,” Pinto said. Pinto’s work never stops. She speaks Wednesday on the future of women’s sports alongside CIAA commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker and VP of women’s sports programming for ESPNW, Susie Piotrkowski, as part of Front Office Sports’ virtual event ‘The Future of Sports: Equity.’ While her contributions on the field and local community have endeared her to Courage Country, the work Pinto does to grow the game of soccer, make the sport accessible to all, and the passion she emits and inspires may be what someday makes her a household name across the entire soccer world. Fans can vote for Brianna Pinto for the 2023 Nationwide NWSL Community Impact Award online beginning Sunday, October 1. The Nationwide Community Impact Award is a season-long, civically focused initiative that promotes community and local service projects chosen and led by each NWSL team. As part of the league-wide initiative, each team works with the league and Nationwide to select one season-long community partner. Each community organization will receive a grant to support its program and serve as the focus of a team-led service project, with a designated player ambassador to champion the effort. At the end of the season, during the 2023 NWSL Championship weekend in November, one team-community partnership will be selected as the winner of the 2023 Nationwide Community Impact Award for their exemplary commitment off the field. The winning community partner will receive a $25,000 donation from Nationwide to further their organization’s efforts.