New Opportunities for Youth in Sacramento
For generations, thousands of Sacramento’s poor have lived in semi-seclusion in the shadows of the cemetery, largely cut off from the city around it. Street Soccer USA Sacramento is proving to be a bright spot partnering with surrounding community members and businesses.
The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, Public Housing on Broadway, currently provides low income housing for over 1,900 residents living in the Alder Grove and Marina Vista Community. As an initiative to bring about change in this area, a new in-fill housing community called The Mill at Broadway aims to build more than 1,000 homes adjacent to the public housing neighborhoods. Kevin Smith, a member of Northwest Land Park LLC and developer for the The Mill at Broadway said, “We’re not building from scratch but from the rich history that’s here. We’re not just creating another cookie-cutter suburban community.”
Kevin Smith and his daughter Nicole Smith reached out to Street Soccer USA Sacramento looking for a way to bridge the gap between the historically low income communities with the new Mill at Broadway community across the street. Soccer was his idea.
With the collaboration of SSUSA and Sacramento Republic FC, a Street Soccer Fest was quickly put into action. Families and youth from the community joined in on this exciting fest to learn about the new opportunities for soccer in their community and enjoy in the fun of the game.
But it didn’t stop there. After the event, Kevin reached out to community leaders and partnered with businesses working in the community to raise over $15,000 for a Street Soccer USA Sacramento pilot program. With these funds, SSUSA is implementing a high- engagement soccer program for the youth at the Alder Grove and Marina Vista communities. This is a joint effort by Street Soccer USA with The Mill development team, local homeowners, SHRA and businesses to make sure the kids can participate in new opportunities supported by their new neighbors.
As a model of ultimate teamwork, this project not only benefits the youth, who now have an additional 5 hours a week of soccer, learning, exercise and fun, but also provides employment opportunity for our SSUSA trained leaders and Adult Team participants.
In a neighborhood where soccer was not being played, it is now something the kids and parents look forward to three nights a week because of a very innovative approach to problem solving and development. We are creating a rallying point for positive activity that will set off a ripple effect throughout the community.
Check out photos from the Soccer Fest below!
