Objective: Use the sport of soccer as a tool to help impact the lives of children in the inner city of Jackson. Providing them with the opportunity to compete on a team, giving them the opportunity to develop important life skills like teamwork, commitment, sportsmanship, and other character building traits. Using coaches as role models not only on the field in competition but off the field in life.
Current Set-Up: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from the beginning of June through the end of July at two locations, Farish Street YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club on Capitol Street. Worked with over 200 kids Ages 5-18.
Summer Activities: Conducted a Vacation Bible School at Farish Street YMCA, Hosted an Urban Soccer Night at PDL home game feeding all the players and their families, Participated in a Career fair at the Boys and Girls Club
Coaches: Current Premier Development League players from various backgrounds and countries (Uganda, Jamaica, Scotland, England, and the USA)
Why is this Important: Soccer provides a new opportunity in the inner city as it isn’t a traditional urban sport. According to statistics 17.6 million kids live in at risk situations. Kids in these at risk situations are more likely to drop out of school, commit crimes, and end up in prison. The need for mentors, especially male mentors is at an all time high in our country and Metro Jackson is no different. According to statistics for the City of Jackson 28.1% of the families live below the poverty line and 75.3% were households where no father is present.
What the future looks like: Take the Urban Soccer Project from a part time ministry in the summer to a full time calendar year ministry with multiple locations throughout the Jackson Metro Area.
- Create a full time position for an Urban Soccer Director
- Expand program offerings
◦ Soccer League (Fall, spring, and Summer U6-U14)
◦ Traveling teams (U10, U12, U14)
- Expand program locations
◦ Create new partnerships
◦ Neighborhood groups
- Purchase permanent and safe equipment for location partners
- Hire summer staff coaches
- Expand education and life skills application porgrams (Take advantage of corporate sponsors of PDL team and other programs)◦ Career Fairs
◦ Academic Mentoring
◦ College Fairs
◦ Job Shadowing Program
◦ Educational trips (soccer tournaments in major cities)
