Milwaukee Coaches Founded Nonprofit Soccer Program
Brenda Gonzalez and KB Pallo launched the initiative to support local Latina youth with low-cost training.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Soccer
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Coaches Brenda Gonzalez and KB Pallo formed the nonprofit soccer team Las Brillantes in December 2024. The program provides accessible soccer training and bilingual support to girls aged 3 to 18 on Milwaukee's south side.
Why it matters
The founders created this program to remove financial, transportation, and language barriers that often prevent Latina youth from participating in organized sports. By offering affordable training and additional resources, the organization seeks to provide equitable access to athletic development.
The program saw enrollment grow to 130 girls for its winter camp compared to 98 players during its inaugural year. Participating students attend six to seven-week camps at a cost of approximately $45.
The players
Brenda Gonzalez
She is a co-founder of the Las Brillantes nonprofit who personally experienced transportation barriers during her own youth.
KB Pallo
She is a co-founder of the Las Brillantes nonprofit who helped establish the soccer program for Milwaukee youth.
Las Brillantes
This is a nonprofit soccer organization providing low-cost training, equipment, and bilingual support to Latina girls on Milwaukee's south side.
Alverno College
This local institution partners with the soccer program to host mental health workshops for the participants.
The details
Coaches organize training sessions across Milwaukee's south side and provide equipment and transportation assistance for families. The program also features mental health workshops through a partnership with Alverno College to support the holistic development of participants.
Timeline
The Las Brillantes program was formed in December 2024.
The program was reported on as an active soccer initiative in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This initiative follows a pattern set by the Aspen Institute's Project Play report on youth sports participation barriers by directly addressing financial and logistical obstacles. The program expands local access to athletic development, shifting the competitive balance for youth on the south side.
Families can now access structured soccer camps for approximately $45 per session, significantly lowering the financial threshold for entry. The provision of supplemental transportation and equipment directly resolves logistical hurdles that previously restricted local participation.
The takeaway
The success of Las Brillantes highlights how targeted community support can effectively eliminate systemic barriers in youth sports. Families interested in organized athletics can look for similar local partnerships that offer integrated mental health and transportation services.
Further reading
For more information on the sport in the region, visit Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Journal Sentinel.
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