Meet the President

Lindsay Barenz, President of the Oakland Roots and the Oakland Soul, is set out to change the world, one “gooooaaaal!” at a time.

What is it about Oakland that makes a purposedriven team like the Roots possible?

It has a lot to do with the history and the people. Oakland is the birthplace of the Black Power movement, home of the Black Panther Party. With that comes a mentality of mutual care and support, and I think those values are deeply woven into Oakland. It’s no surprise to me that [the Roots] are the first professional sports club in the U.S. to take this approach. Fans are demanding accountability from team owners in a way we’ve never seen before. We’re aware of how powerful and influential athletes are.

What interested you about the Oakland Roots?

The players are so passionate and are such great advocates for the things they care about. Sports bring people together and allow us to overcome barriers that divide us.