Since its founding in 1989, Soccer in the Streets has grown significantly. We have continued to connect and inspire youth by providing better access to quality soccer programs and helping to prepare them for employment.
In 2019, Soccer in the Streets continued to build on its mission, impacting the lives of thousands of youth players throughout metro Atlanta. We connected communities, built vibrant spaces, cultivated young leaders and most importantly, played the beautiful game of soccer. As an organization, we pride ourselves on developing young leaders so they can lead rich lives and cultivate healthy communities through sports-based youth development. We want to connect each community through the game of soccer.
Each year, we strive to further extend our impact on our local communities - from the referee program to the financial literacy program to the schools and local community programs.
Soccer in the Streets’ youth referee’s
Over the course of just two years, the referee program has seen 48 youth players become certified by the USSF. These players now have a certified skill that they can use, beyond just playing the game. As a referee, the players learn more than just the laws of the game. They learn professionalism, how to deal with players and parents, and they are paid for their work.
At the heart of the referee, the program is Jill Robbins. She leads the way for the newly certified referees and has witnessed first hand the growth of each individual.
“It’s gratifying to see the kids go from having a casual interest to becoming eager apprentices, and from there, become certified and start to work as a professional referee,” Robbins said. “Over time and as they gain experience, you get to see them increase in proficiency and confidence. They also take their responsibility seriously and appreciate the benefit they’ve received. Recognizing the benefit they have received helps instill a feeling of obligation to then help their peers as they enter the ranks of soccer officials. It’s a virtuous circle.”
Two SITS players, Elvis Niyokwizara and Phil Jackson, enrolled in the first year of the referee program so they could stay closer to the game. Then, in the fall of 2019, both these young leaders fulfilled their dreams to play soccer at the next level by enrolling at Campbellsville University, an NAIA school.
Phil Jackson ( left) & Elvis Niyokwizara (right)
As a native of Tanzania, Elvis had moved to Georgia early in his childhood. He followed his passion for the sport through regular involvement with the Soccer in the Streets organization. As an athlete, his dream is to one day become a professional soccer player. Playing at the collegiate level is the next step along his career path.
“It means a lot to me to graduate high school and attend college,” said Elvis. “I will be the first one in my family to attend college, and I want to set an example for my younger siblings as well as my teammates.”
Along with the challenges of attending college, Elvis has become a leader for his Clarkston FC team, making an impact on others through his words and actions. His advice to the younger generation is to never give up, no matter what life throws your way.
Also enrolled at Campbellsville University, Elvis’ Clarkston teammate, Phil Jackson, has a similar dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
“Ever since I was in middle school, I have dreamt of pursuing a soccer career, and I hope to keep that momentum moving forward,” said Phil. “After college, I plan to come back to the SITS program and donate my time to help the youth of the program. I have a passion for the game and want to show others that they too can pursue and achieve their goals.”
Helping youth become young leaders in their communities is not the only mission of Soccer in the Streets. We work hard to help prepare youth players with useful skills for the future. We take pride in helping guide the young players on the right pathway. These kinds of learning experiences are the foundation of our financial literacy program.
The continuing success of Soccer in the Streets also comes as a result of partnerships with community organizations. As we plant our soccer seed in metro Atlanta communities, we seek local businesses to help our youth players expand the connectivity between soccer and life skills.
StationSoccer - West End was built in 2018 as a pilot for our financial literacy program. And in the past year, we have teamed up with the local Bank of America branch in the Westside to help our youth players in the referee program open a bank account - a small but important step to helping set them on a path to succeed in life.
Bank of America has hosted three sessions that were attended by 20 of our youth players. Of the 20, six were successful in opening new bank accounts. Others in the group already had bank accounts and attended to help learn more about financial literacy.
Youth players attending our financial literacy program
“This program is excellent,” said Chiquita Jenkins, Westside Financial Manager. “The impact on these kids and on the community is life-changing. We see very clearly how Soccer in the Streets strives to help all youth players in its program, from individuals wanting to simply learn how to save for the future to the ones managing their money from the referee program. It is wonderful, and I have never seen this before.”
Soccer in the Streets impacts thousands of youth soccer players, so connecting each community in Atlanta is a key indicator of success for our organization. We help make those connections through our StationSoccer locations. In the last year, Soccer in the Streets added another community connection - East Point.
This special StationSoccer location is easily recognized by its stunning, vibrant mural. Donated by Atlanta United, the murals painted on the brick wall of an adjacent building owned by local community partner Joel M. Baskin. Across the pitch from the mural lies a well-known pizza joint, Oz Pizza.
Seventy youth players have joined the first-ever East Point community program, since the grand opening of StationSoccer - East Point in October.
“We are excited to officially join the world’s first transit soccer league,” said Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. “This is a huge milestone for East Point that will bring vibrant activity to our downtown. StationSoccer – East Point is a destination for people of all ages to come to celebrate, connect and enjoy the game of soccer in our city.”
While StationSoccer- East Point kicked off with great success, the West End location has seen increase inactivity. At its 2018 grand opening,100 kids signed up, but we had estimated to have 250 kids in the West End program ranging from U4 to U16.
Third location, StationSoccer- East Point
“This is our thing now. This our community” said West End program manager Joel Apudo. “We have hundreds of kids now in the program that have never touched a soccer ball. It really has brought together a community that is changing, that had been overlooked.”
This is a growing community and to bring vibrant spaces to previously unused areas is eye-opening. The youth players are impacted - but so are their parents. It’s beautiful to see the community come together at this simple green space that was developed through the generous support of numerous community partners.
“It is so convenient for the young ones in the community,” said a West End mother. “To be able to hop off a train and jump right into the game -- it is perfect.”
And another mother adds:
“Our family has definitely benefited from this StationSoccer location. As a working mother, I need it to be convenient. If it was further out of this community, we wouldn’t be able to participate.”
The expectations we set each year for Soccer in the Streets are high. But for the youth players whose lives we strive to impact, meeting those expectations is a responsibility we take seriously and a goal we know we must reach. Our mission is clear, and the results we have just detailed show that we are making a difference. Onward we go into 2020, raising the bar even higher …