Fútbol for All Speaker Series: Girls with Goals

Join us to welcome Reign FC legend Lauren “Lu” Barnes in conversation with local author Clelia Castro-Malaspina as they discuss books, soccer, and sports history! The conversation will be moderated by Justi Baumgardt, who is a former professional player and is now head coach at the youth club Eastside FC and lives in Redmond.

Whether you are just starting out in your soccer journey or you are an experienced player who already loves the sport, you'll come to understand women's soccer in a completely new way through intriguing tales from Castro-Malaspina’s Girls with Goals book and personal anecdotes from Lu Barnes.

A love letter to women's soccer and the female athletes who inspired girls all over the world to pull on their cleats, Girls with Goals will honor the women who fought hard to play the sport they loved and paved the way for athletes playing all women's sports today.

Clelia Castro-Malaspina is the author of books for teens and children, including Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment. Kirkus called this book “current, insightful and savvy,” and in its starred review, Booklist asserted that the book “empowers kids.” Clelia has been an attorney and a literary agent, and currently runs her children’s book editorial business, Mossy Pines Creative. She lives on Mercer Island Washington, an island suburb of Seattle, with her husband and two daughters.

Lauren "Lu" Barnes is a retired professional soccer player who was a founding member of the Reign FC and played her whole career with the team. She is a two-time NWSL Defender of the Year, a three-time NWSL Shield winner, and a three-time NWSL Championship runner-up. Barnes has played the most-ever games and minutes of any NWSL player, with a total of 250 regular season appearances and 17,328 minutes played. Barnes retired in 2025 and is currently a coach for Seattle United.
Join us at Brick and Mortar Books at Redmond Town Center on May 21 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. for this celebration of women’s soccer. Along with the program, there will be prize drawings and a meet and greet with the two speakers.

Date: May 21
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Brick and Mortar Books (B105 7430 164th Ave NE Redmond)

This event, part of the City’s Fútbol for All Speaker Series, is presented in partnership with Amazon and the Port of Seattle. It is a community program designed to celebrate the world’s game and prepare residents for the excitement of World Cup 2026.

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Host or Publisher City of Redmond, WA