Lead With Your Heart

Get Into Formation

On Sunday, Maritza calls Makena and Evette to loop them in on the plan. Evette suggests using their World by Us page, the same one from the river cleanup, to spread the word. Makena agrees it could be their biggest event yet.

On Monday, Maritza and Violeta pull Ainsley aside to explain why Violeta skipped practice. Ainsley offers to talk to the coach about giving her another chance. They track down Mr. Bernstein and ask for class time to present. He agrees and hands the floor to Maritza and Violeta. Sierra, who has iced Maritza out all week, looks confused but can’t hide her curiosity.

Maritza projects the donation-jar photo and asks what the class notices. Raheem calls it a family; Peyton says they look happy. She wonders who took the photo. When Josh wonders whether “Hispanic” or “Latinx” is the right word, the class works through it together. Maritza explains the photo ties to something Raheem mentioned the week before: the man in it, Andrés, was recently detained by immigration officers.

Maritza gestures that it’s Violeta’s turn to talk. She steps to the front and tells the class that Andrés left El Salvador at eighteen because his mother’s medical bills gave him no other choice. He settled in D.C., cooking at a hospital. He joined a local Catholic church, married, and now raises two daughters, Mia and Graciela. Despite building that life, he was picked up and detained by immigration.

Violeta says she took the photo. This family is her family. This photo shows a happy family, but now, Andrés’s daughters cry for him every day. His wife can barely make ends meet. Tío Andrés means so much to the whole family, and they need him home.

The room falls silent, and Sierra mouths “I’m sorry” before breaking into applause. Maritza says they don’t want to talk about injustice. They want to do something about it. Their class has the power to help Violeta’s family.

Who wants to help out? Hands shoot up in the air from Raheem, Ainsley, and nearly everyone else while Sierra cheers, “¡Sí se puede!” The class votes to help present Violeta’s cause at the Soccer Showcase.

Maritza and Ainsley video-call the soccer team to pitch the idea. A few players worry it could cost them a roster spot. So Maritza reads a journal quote from soccer star Megan Rapinoe about using a platform for good. The whole team signs on.

Word spreads fast. Peyton promises her mom’s news crew will cover the event, and Abuela agrees to bring her well-connected clients. Sierra organizes protest signs while Violeta and Maritza line up food trucks to donate proceeds to Andrés’s legal fees. That night, Evette and Makena’s viral soccer-trick videos flood the World by Us page with encouragement from other schools.

On Friday night, the night before the Soccer Showcase, Sierra comes over to finish the audio setup and presentation schedule. Dad thanks both girls. Everyone is proud of them.

When Violeta arrives, the three dig through an old photo album. They find one of a woman standing beside activist Dolores Huerta, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. On the back is a quote about how every moment is a chance to organize and every person a potential activist.

Violeta says the woman looks like Maritza. Tears well up in Maritza’s eyes. The woman is Tía Mari.