By Alex Riley
Special to SMUMustangs.com

DALLAS – Jewel Boland listened as SMU women's soccer head coach Chris Petrucelli explained the concept during a meeting last spring.

Athletes Advocating for Change, an initiative started by the American Athletic Conference, would allow student-athletes across the league's various sports to digitally meet and discuss the ongoing social injustice issues occurring throughout the country and create ways they can make a difference.

Petrucelli was looking for student-athletes interested in helping out. Boland's hand could not get up fast enough.

"I jumped on it. It was just something that I felt like I needed to do, personally, just to continue to use my platform. To be an advocate and not be silent about everything that's going on," Boland said.

Boland has never taken her role, both as an athlete and community leader, lightly. She came to the Hilltop as a talented junior college transfer, eager to make an impact at the Division I level. She called SMU's vibes the "perfect fit" for her as an individual and a player. She found teammates who embraced her both on and off the field.

But she did notice that as a junior she was one of the only people of color on the roster. It never made her uncomfortable, but she was certainly aware of it.

As protests and marches began to happen all around the country last year, Boland knew she had to help. She was already working in the community, but the opportunity to join Athletes Advocating for Change was something she could not pass up.

"We just wanted to continue to take steps in the right direction and continue to advocate and help people learn and be educated and not be afraid to have this conversation and be a part of a change that really needs to happen in our world in society," Boland said.

The group discusses ideas on how to shine a light on social inequities and injustices. Teams have taken part in peaceful protests, watched documentaries and had group discussions on topics taking place around the nation.

This season, SMU joins other teams in the league in taking an eight-second pause and kneeling just before the opening whistle of each match. A statement will be read during this moment, clarifying the meaning of gesture. 

Community support, both at SMU and within Dallas, has been overwhelmingly positive, but there have been moments that show growth is still needed. During a protest walk, someone who didn't share similar views verbally accosted Boland and her teammates. They simply marched on, side-by-side, choosing to move forward rather than acknowledge hate.

"At the end of the day, we're here to help and support one another off and on the field, no matter what that may look like," Boland said. "I'm very proud of my team and very grateful that I have those people on my team that are going to be there to support me."

It's moments like these that show Boland what the future could look like. It's something she's proud to work with her Mustang teammates to make possible.

"We are one as a unit. Teams aren't just teams, they're families," Boland said. "And I think our team has done a great job with that of just making everyone feel comfortable and having our voices heard."