At the end of March and into early April, a group of UR student volunteers worked one-on-one with children with autism, ages 5 to 14, on the sports field next to the Modlin Center, providing them with the opportunity to enjoy physical activity and build friendships while their parents watched from the stands.  

Sophomores Lauren Shin, a biochemistry & molecular biology major, and Cam Tyson, a biology and leadership studies double major, co-founded the Kickin’ It Coalition, which hosted the soccer clinics. They partnered to create the club after discovering they had a mutual interest in soccer and an affinity for working with kids who have autism.

During her first year at UR, Shin shadowed Dr. Katlyne Lubin, a developmental behavioral specialist who diagnoses children with autism at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Shin remembered the frustration many parents expressed about wait times for essential services. “I empathized with their stories and felt that I could open up another opportunity these families might not otherwise get.”

In high school, Tyson often worked with groups that organized activities for children with autism or diverse abilities. His younger brother was diagnosed with autism. “It helped me develop an empathy for these children that others might not have,” he said.

So when Shin came to him with the idea for the Kickin’ It Coalition, Tyson jumped at the opportunity. They also knew how well their talents complemented each other. “I love doing project management stuff, like organizing, planning, and marketing,” she said. “And Cam has this amazing talent for being an on-scene leader and getting the volunteers and families excited.”

Shin recognized early on that the biggest obstacle to starting the Kickin’ It Coalition would be finding families to participate, so she contacted the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement.

“Lauren came to us with the ambition, aspirations, and humility to build genuine relationships and make connections,” says Blake Stack, CCE's senior associate director of student engagement.

Through CCE, Shin found out about the Faison Center, a Richmond-based organization that provides services to improve the lives of children and adults with autism. This connection eventually led her to the Autism Society of Central Virginia, a not-for-profit that connected her with interested families.

“When a student comes in asking how to connect their passions to the community in a thoughtful and ethical way, it’s ultimately a win-win for everyone,” Stack says. “Like many other Spiders, Lauren is doing the hard work to create meaningful change by partnering with members of the Richmond community.”

Shin and Tyson put out a call for volunteers in the fall during SpiderFest. While they had hoped for enough people to coach 20 children, they were thrilled that over 60 Spiders expressed interest. The Center for Student Involvement was also instrumental in helping them get the Kickin’ It Coalition approved as a club, which allowed them to reserve the sports field for their first set of clinics last October.

So far, the Kickin’ It Coalition has hosted 16 clinics — four consecutive Sundays in October with two time slots per day and four more days this spring, also with two time slots. Children are paired with the same coaches to foster strong relationships, and Shin and Tyson have received positive feedback.

“One of the moms contacted me about the volunteer who’s been working with her child. She wanted to gift her a basket with her favorite snacks,” Shin says. “Seeing our college community build something with these kids and their families is what excites me.”

Shin and Tyson are dedicated to reaching more families in the coming years, leaving a legacy for the Spiders who will follow in their footsteps after they graduate.

“Whether it’s off campus or on, community partnerships bring our students into contact with people from different walks of life, different lived experiences, and different viewpoints,” Stack said. "This is foundational to creating an environment where students can explore what it means to be kind, curious, thoughtful citizens."