Makeisha and Ethan Robey
The mission of Soccer in the Streets goes far beyond the pitch. One of our biggest impacts is our team providing safe community spaces to enjoy the game of soccer for almost 1,000 Atlanta youth.
More importantly, these safe spaces help families thrive.
Our first family spotlight is the Robey Family, a dedicated and compassionate family.
Makeisha Robey is a local Atlanta community leader who is also an Atlanta Land Trust board member, small business owner, teacher, and most importantly, mother of seven. Makeisha understands the power of community and the necessity of healthy relationships between youth and adults. Her new business, The Happy Black Parent, creates a way for parents and kids to play and creatively express themselves in a joyful environment.
If she is not working at Pittsburgh Yards helping local families, you can find Makeisha teaching preschool. If she is not teaching, she is most likely taking her incredibly talented children to the community after-school activities. One of her frequent stops on MARTA is our West End StationSoccer location where her son, Ethan, and her daughter Alicia have participated in our program.
Ethan during West End youth practice
When we sat down with Makeisha, she could not help but smile watching Ethan bolt across the pitch. She mentioned how he has grown from rolling on the field during practice to practicing like a professional at home. Of course, that same moment, Ethan did an incredible log roll as he awaited his turn in a scrimmage.
After a quick laugh, Makeisha continued to share the power of community and how Soccer in the Streets has played a small role in her inspirational journey.
“Soccer In the Streets has given my family an opportunity to experience a sport that would have been otherwise possible to fully participate in”, said Makeisha. “Our entire family is able to learn about the lifestyle that is soccer and my son has found an activity he adores.”
Alicia has also been impacted by the Soccer in the Streets program as she played for the West End program for two years and became a certified referee. Makeshia mentioned, “She takes being a referee very seriously. She really cares. Her outfit was always ready. It improved her sense of authority and responsibility.” Now she is a talented artist. You can see her work at the local Pittsburgh Yards Market!
The last couple of years has been difficult for many families trying to navigate the pandemic. With Makeisha’s kids participating in an online school, consistent practices and games have been so helpful in providing healthy social environments for her children. Beyond the peer to peer social interactions, Makeisha shared,
Coach Rajay going over drills for practice
“Ethan has had the same coach the past three years. Coach Rajay, he cares. Ethan even asks for advice. Realistically, if this field was not here, he wouldn’t be playing soccer.”
Coach Rajay sees potential in all the players, especially Ethan.
“Ethan has developed not only into an amazing player but a teammate. And young man. I have seen him grow over the years and it’s beautiful to see.” said Rajay.
At Soccer in the Streets, our Sport-Based Youth Development model provides an atmosphere for local families where all children can learn a variety of interdependent skills that will help them live in a healthy and prosperous community. One vital component of our SBYD model is the focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)- defined as the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to a successful life.
Last season, 96 percent of West End players surveyed had "Advanced Sport SEL Capacities," meaning they scored higher and were more adept in the capacities of Goal-Orientation and Self-Confidence.
The efforts of Makeisha and Coach Rajay show how the Soccer in the Streets family joins together to create pathways of success for our local communities. Soccer truly does have the power to change the trajectory of life even amidst significant challenges. Our team will continue to learn from leaders like Makeisha and her commitment to providing these important opportunities for children.
