Kicking It Into Summer: Gearing up for the 2009 Street Soccer USA Cup

"When I'm on the field, I feel like I can't do anything wrong."--Dexter Burnet, Street Soccer NYC (recently moved out of HELP USA's Wards Island SEC)

The Street Soccer USA Cup is a unique event. It takes place July 31st to August 2nd, in Washington DC. Spectators will witness the best in the human spirit as 16 teams made up of homeless youth and adults, male and female, from 16 cities around the country compete in high paced 4v4, Street Soccer action at the Washington Kastles 3,000 person stadium in center city Washington, DC. We encourage to you to learn about the players on our website, attend the games, and to support these players in the efforts to overcome homelessness and poverty.

From the tournament, eight players are chosen to travel abroad to the 48-nation Homeless World Cup in Milan, Italy this September.

While the value of sports as a personal development tool is not universally acknowledged, the field of sport for social development has lots of room for innovation and improvement. HELP USA's Street Soccer USA program is positioned at the forefront of the sport for social change movement. Thanks to the Leonsis Foundation, The Washington Kastles, The Steve Case Foundation, and Nike the Street Soccer USA Cup can serve once again as a motivational tool to catalyze personal transformation on the local level across the country.

Here in New York, the team organized on Ward's Island from the Clarke Thomas Next Step Shelter and the Supportive Employment Center has exceeded all expectations.

Jarvis St. Rose, a Street Soccer USA player, had been listed as not compliant and scheduled for discharge to the street. Street Soccer has taught him focus and discipline. The program has helped Jarvis get back on track. He has been one of the most dedicated players. Jarvis, who is from the island of St. Vincent's, is not only leading scorer, but he has worked off the field with our volunteers to track down his personal documentation, renew his green card, and pursue vocational rehab. Twenty-four year old Chris Lodgson of the Bronx found the consistency and accountability of the team and its goal setting approach to be just the thing to keep him upbeat and on his case plan. After the joining the team, Chris got a job at Bloomingdales and is now working with a street soccer mentor to apply to community college. These are just two of the success stories happening as result of the Street Soccer NYC team and community of volunteers. Please follow their efforts as they represent HELP USA and the city later on this month.

You can see an interview with Chris Lodgson and other media coverage of Street Soccer USA by linking here www.streetsoccerusa.org/press_and_media

Visit www.streetsoccerusa.org for more info about the Cup and how to plug into Street Soccer USA.