The West End has become a home for many Soccer in the Streets youth players and StationSoccer- West End field has become their second home. Alysia Boney, a five-year resident, and mother to a youth player says she has seen a change in the West End over the past year.
“It gives all the kids in the neighborhood, no matter of means or money, a chance to play soccer on a quality soccer field,” said Boney. “It not only does that, but it keeps the area around it a safe space and environment for the kids.”
This all began when StationSoccer - West End opened in September 2018, it was converted from an unused space into a vibrant green soccer field for all the residences of the West End community to use. The goal for West End and other StationSoccer locations is to provide access to the beautiful game of soccer while tackling the barrier of transportation.
The West End youth players have been highly responsive to the field and they take great care of the space that has been provided to them. They not only take pride in their field, but they take pride in the surrounding neighborhood.
Coach Joel Apudo of the West End United team has taken it upon himself to lead the youth players and parents of the West End to help keep their home beautiful. Each month a group of ten members or so of the Soccer in the Streets family has volunteered their time to pick up trash in the West End as part of the community beautification committee projects.
“I knew this volunteer opportunity was a perfect fit for our West End Community Program,” said Apudo. “With the motto of the organization and the passion these kids have for their community I wanted to help them give back. And it shows they can keep their community a vibrant space. You can see that they take pride in cleaning up their own streets or the streets where their friends/grandparents live. It is also nice to see the kids suggest their own routes. It shows how familiar they are with what is around them, and it gives them a chance to change it.”
Apudo has been a long-time resident of the West End and its a true home for him. It’s a place he feels he can have a positive effect on someone’s life every time he steps out of his door. Soccer is bringing everyone closer together and Joel wants to remain apart of that.
And as a mother of a youth player being led by Coach Apudo, Alysia Boney has seen Joel become an excellent leader over the year on and off the field for her son.
“Soccer in the Streets and Joel has been a blessing in disguise for my son, Joshua,” Boney said. “After what he saw the program had to offer, he knew this is what he wanted to do. He has grown over the past year and Coach Joel has led him to be an excellent young boy. When we participate in these community volunteer projects it shows the kids that there is more to offer in these soccer programs.”