Win the City Wins a Regional Emmy, Celebrating the Power of Sport and Community

The documentary tells the story of Chicago’s Comeback—and what becomes possible when a community works together to help young people thrive through sport. Win the City, a documentary produced by Laureus USA and JTWO, has won a 2026 Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Affairs Programming.

From neighborhood courts and fields to the halls of state government, the film follows Chicagoans coming together around a shared belief: every young person deserves the chance to play, connect, and thrive. Through the voices of coaches, mentors, young people, and community partners, Win the City shows what that belief looks like in action. Coaches become trusted mentors. Young people find confidence and belonging. Organizations share resources, build relationships, and work toward goals that reach beyond any one program.

Together, their stories reveal how sport can create connections, open doors, and strengthen communities.

Chicago’s Comeback: Turning a Shared Vision into Action

At the center of the documentary is Chicago’s Comeback, a campaign that brought Laureus USA and the Sport for Good Chicago coalition together to advocate for public investment in accessible, fun, and supportive youth sport programs across Illinois.

By uniting their voices, participating organizations helped make the case that youth sport is an investment in young people and their communities. The campaign secured a landmark funding victory and built momentum for continued advocacy, helping secure nearly $14 million in state funding to expand access to quality youth sport programming.

That achievement illustrates the film’s central message: when organizations and communities work together, they can create opportunities for young people on a scale no single organization could achieve alone.

“Chicago’s Comeback showed what can happen when organizations come together around a shared commitment to young people. This film captures both the collective effort behind that funding victory and the everyday work of coaches and community leaders who help kids feel supported, connected, and capable. It’s an honor to see their stories recognized—and a reminder that when we work together, we can get more kids in the game and help them thrive.”

Ben Schornack, Executive Director of Laureus USA

A Win for the Whole Coalition

This recognition celebrates the people at the heart of Sport for Good Chicago: the coaches who show up every day, the young people who shared their experiences, and the partner organizations working side by side to expand opportunity across the city.

Their work, and their willingness to tell their stories, made Win the City possible.

Laureus USA is also grateful to the team at JTWO, whose creative vision brought these stories to the screen with honesty and heart.

A Chicago Story with a Message for Every Community. Win the City is rooted in Chicago, but its message reaches far beyond one city.

Through Sport for Good Cities, Laureus USA brings local organizations, funders, and community leaders together to address shared barriers and expand access to quality youth sport programs. From advocacy and shared resources to coach development and community connections, this work helps organizations accomplish more together.

The film brings that approach to life. “Winning the city” means working together so that more young people have a place to belong, people who believe in them, and opportunities to thrive—on and off the field.

Watch the full documentary here. The password is Sport4Good

This project was produced with funding support from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.