St. Louis Roadies Homeless Soccer Team to Take on Phi Kappa Psi at Mizzou!

From our partner organization in St. Louis, Peter and Paul Community Services

ST. LOUIS (April 23, 2010)

Doug Carter was homeless on and off for the past several years in St. Louis. While participating in a transitional housing program at Peter & Paul Community Services, Doug learned about the agency’s street soccer team, the St. Louis Roadies. He never thought a ball could change his life but three years later he has his own place, a part-time job and is pursuing a Missouri Commercial Driver’s license in order to supplement his income as a cab driver.

“Looking back now, I was just tired of being tired, tired of losing jobs and moving from place to place. I remember one winter sleeping out in a tent behind an abandoned building downtown with a couple other guys. One of the guys at our camp froze to death. He had been there throughout the winter and rarely got out of the cold when the weather was really bad. It finally caught up with him. It was really sad. I continued to work with Peter & Paul staff on my résumé and stayed involved with the soccer team. I have no idea as to why, but the coaches and players chose me as team captain. I was pretty happy about that. Through it all I’ve kept my faith. I’m actually proud of myself and where I am now. I’ve come a long way.”

Since joining the Roadies Doug has competed at the national level in Kansas City at the Midwest Invitational and Washington D.C. for the Street Soccer USA Cup. This summer he will travel with the team to Washington D.C. to compete against homeless street soccer teams from 16 other cities. Organizers of the Street Soccer USA Cup will choose 8 players to represent the United States in the Homeless World Cup in Rio De Janiero in the fall.

Doug is not the exception. Internationally, 77% of participants in Street Soccer programs make a significant life changes such as moving off the street, or pursuing further education.

With 800,000 people homeless on any given night in the US, homelessness is a widespread and worsening national problem.

Mizzou Senior Luke Hesse first heard about the St. Louis Roadies while home for Easter break.

“I heard about Doug’s story from a family member who helps out at Peter & Paul Community Services. I got in touch with Pete Campanella who heads up the coaching staff for the Roadies and spoke to our house president about playing a match. The idea kind of took off from there.”

The Roadies take on Phi Kappa PSI on Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m.

Date/Time: Friday, April 30, 2010 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Cosmopolitan Park, 1615 Business Loop 70W, Columbia, MO 65202

In Case of Rain The match will be played indoors at Mizzou. Call 314-662-2877 for indoor venue. Open to the public

Other news out of St. Louis...

Congratulations to St. Louis Roadie Captain Daniel Blue for moving into his new place and enrolling at L'Ecole Culinaire!

Daniel Blue

Dustin Edge + Street Soccer USA

From the website of our good friend and musician Dustin Edge.
Please click on title for link.
...

Hey everyone,

Over the next week, 50% of all online sales will go to support an organization that I greatly admire - Street Soccer USA. Aside from being an ardent supporter, it's been a privilege to work side-by-side with Street Soccer USA in the past as a guest performer at the Street Soccer USA Cup in Washington DC.

With a mission of using soccer for social change, SSUSA uses team sports to help adults and youths overcome homelessness through a national sports league in 20 cities across the country. Players within the organization commit to change their lives by setting 3, 6, and 12 month personal goals. Then, with the assistance of coaches and volunteers, each player is held accountable to meet – and even exceed – their vision for a better self. Since its inception, Street Soccer USA has helped over 75% of their players get off the streets within a year of joining the program.

If you're interesting in acquiring my music and would also like to donate to this worthwhile cause, just click here or any the images below to visit the online store.

On another note, thanks so much to everyone who came out to the 'By The Numbers' CD Release Party earlier this month in Manhattan. If you weren't able to make it, there are several more shows coming up soon - just see below for all the details.

Hope all is well wherever you are.

All the best,

DUSTIN

“Growth in the Windy City and Beyond”

Street Soccer Chicago:

April 27, 2010

Mind, Body and Team Spirit: The Ice Gets More Solid”

Though springtime has melted any of mother nature’s ice from Chigagoland, “The Ice” in the western suburbs is getting rock solid.

After two months of practice, members of “The Ice” have grown as individuals in a multitude of ways, including new jobs, continuing education endeavors as well as improving in personal responsibility, and respect for self and others. All of these individual changes have lead to a stronger group of men, who are all ready to continuing learning through the team soccer experience and seeing themselves as winners in the game of life.

The team will have their first scrimmage at “Just for Kick’s” Indoor Arena in Plainfield on Monday May 3rd at 7:30pm and would love to see the community come out and share in the fun.

Special thanks to the following volunteers who have helped and supported “The Ice” so far this season. I hope to be able to add more names to the list as the team prepares for the Street Soccer USA Cup 2010!

· Mark Balsan

· Melissa and Max Lawson

· Jeff “Roscoe” Maid

· Elise Manzie

· Nancy Manzie

· Karol Oaks

· Ken Sweda

Welcome Lincoln Park!

What’s the newest thing to sprout up in the streets of Chicago this spring? - A new street soccer team based out of Lincoln Park of course! Please get ready to extend a hand of support to Street Soccer Chicago’s second team to join the Street Soccer USA family.

Special thanks to the following for helping to make this new beginning possible :

· Lincoln Park Community Shelter

· Katie McNamara

· Chris Clark

· Mark Eckerle

Stanley Cup, maybe…Street Soccer Cup:

DEFINITELY!

July 29th - August 1st 2010

Your Support is Needed

PLEASE VISIT WWW.STREETSOCCERCHICAGO.ORG

SSUSA and Ramapo Team Up

Ramapo College’s Community Service Center has teamed up with Street Soccer USA to make a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative to help spread to work about SSUSA, help raise money and to help us end and change the way people view the issue of homelessness in the USA.

Pictured above are Rachel, Lauren, Sarah and Quiona. They attended the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference in Miami last week and worked the SSUSA booth. They signed up other college students from around the world up to support SSUSA and they spread the word about all of the great work everyone involved with SSUSA is doing.

Thank you Ramapo Community Service Center for your dedication last week and we look forward to all of the amazing events next school year!!

S.S. PORT's 2nd "Beat the Streets with Soccer" Fundraiser

~The S.S. PORT and WCSO Teams~

"Beat The Streets With Soccer" Fundraiser

March 28, 2010

Team S.S. PORT defends against Team WCSO

The S.S. PORT Team after the match

The Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor, Michigan) S.S. PORT (Street Soccer Project Outreach Team) embarked upon our second annual fundraiser on March 28, 2010. Despite not reaching our goal financially, the event was very successful in community networking, publicizing the street soccer program and the fight to end homelessness, and providing an afternoon of fun for specatators and players alike.

The event consisted of a soccer match between the local Street Soccer team, S.S. PORT, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office (WCSO). Before, during, and after the event, approximately 40 prizes that were donated by local businesses were raffled off to the crowd who purchased raffle tickets at $5 each. S.S. PORT players of all skill levels got equal time on the field and each player received a commemorative award from a Sheriff's Office counterpart, or "shadow Sheriff."

SSNYC Takes Home 2nd Place

Street Soccer NYC team receiving their trophy from the organizers of the Greens Farms Academy Street Soccer USA Tournament





SSNYC coach Will speaking to the crowd about the importance of community in people's lives

High School Tournament Hosts SSNYC

The Green Farms Academy (GFA) Community Service Committee held a great soccer tournament yesterday with all proceeds going to Street Soccer USA. Six teams participated in the event including the Street Soccer NYC team.

The day started out with me speaking to the teams about how at Street Soccer we use a lot of the same principles that they are using at Green Farms Academy, including giving structure and having the foundation of a community behind each other to achieve all of our goals.

And what a community GFA has!! This event was run by a group of 17 and 18 year old students who found out about Street Soccer USA when Lawrence Cann went to their high school to explain the program last year. A couple of weeks ago I went to speak to their Community Service Committee about the impact that having an event such as this will have on our players.

As for Street Soccer NYC involvement, we started off tying and losing our first two games. After a lunch intermission provided by GFA, we got together and decided we were going to change the way we played and compact the field as a team in an effort to shore up our defense and allow the other teams to make mistakes that we would take advantage of. With this strategy and playing as a complete team SSNYC went on to win its next 3 games and advance to the finals. Even though the team fell in the finals it was a great day had by all. The team got to enjoy a full day of food, friendship, music and soccer, as well as be recognized for all of the positive things that they are doing.

I just wanted to thank everyone at Green Farms Academy for the event and for all of the amazing work they are doing. This event will make a huge difference in everyone's life that was there and go a long way in SSUSA's attempt to end homelessness.

Will Mazzuto
Street Soccer USA

Street Soccer 945 All-Women's Team Debut Practice

Since it’s original inception in 2004, the Street Soccer program in Charlotte has continually grown and flourished. Taking a program from nothing to what it is today is no small feat. It’s a sometimes arduous task that requires constant attention and continual focus on the next milestones ahead.

2010 has already started to shape up as a year of the milestones for Street Soccer 945. Finishing out their winter season this past March, the 945 All-Star team brought home a championship win in their Men’s Intermediate league. Not only was this a milestone for Street Soccer 945, but also for Street Soccer USA representing the first championship win of any Street Soccer USA team in the country. Next on the 945 plate was establishing a first-class fan club, the Royal Court, for the 945 team. The energy generated by the Royal Court has been infectious and Street Soccer 945 has continued the maturing process that Lawrence and Rob Cann started during their respective tenures.

Today, Street Soccer 945 took a step towards another monumental milestone: forming their first womens-only street soccer team. Following the cues from the Minneapolis team, Street Soccer 945 had their first womens-only practice today and the signs were encouraging.

In attendance this afternoon was an even balance of individuals. Joining Pete this afternoon in the coaching realm is Brittany and our new volunteer coach Jill Brehm. In the player arena we have two veterans and two newbies. Ebony and Nori have been with the 945 program for awhile now, while Myrah and Kyra are new to the world of soccer. Since it was the first practice for this new entity the coaches started with the fundamentals before some fun stuff. As a spectator, I must admit that by the end of practice I was very optimistic at where this team is heading. Good things are on the horizon. Good things.

To get involved or learn more about Street Soccer 945 in Charlotte, NC contact Pete at streetsoccer945@urbanministrycenter.org

CNN features SSUSA, Huff Post highlights

We hope the hard work of our players coaches and parnters and the recognition they are receiving will make the case for us to expand on what we do, develop our jobs academies and street soccer leagues. Contact us to find our how to help move these larger goals forward.

Duke Engages

SSUSA founder Lawrence Cann visited Duke's Sanford Public Policy School to meet with a select group of aspiring social entrepenuers studying at the University. The astute group impressed with two hours of questions. Here is a photo with student leader and Duke Engage member Brooke Kingsland.

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SSUSA on ESPN

Jobs and Education

Op-Ed Columnist - Escaping From Poverty - NYTimes.com This OP ED highlights effective strategies for fighting poverty. We would argue that homelessness, being a degree of poverty, needs the same remedies. Jobs and Education.

Ramapo Recognizes SSUSA

The Ramapo College of NJ recognized the great work everyone is doing at Street Soccer and highlighted last summers Street Soccer USA Cup in its bi-annual alumni magazine. Check is out at the bottom of the link here...

SS945 Charlotte Improves to 3-2

Street soccer 945 does it again! Taking home another win last night brings the season standings to 3-2. I arrived about 15 minutes before they took the field. It was a cool crisp evening and Street Soccer 945 was warming up. I was a little shocked at first as I had never seen so many Street Soccer 945 uniforms donned at once. I counted 14 players in all. Impressive turn out to say the least. Also in attendance, beyond the usual Watershed superfans, was a group of students from South Mecklenburg High School. Representing their soccer team and a community service group, these students not only came out and cheered but also served orange slices to the players at half-time - very cool and nostalgic!

So maybe we should talk a little about the game itself? The team really gelled, tonight, and put on a beautiful display of teamwork and ball control. Our defense was solid. Communication was solid. Offense was solid. Passing was solid (except for Pete). The team was simply solid tonight. First out the gate with a goal was Mister who popped in a nice one to the left side after receiving a great cross from Pete. And the crowd goes wild. Mister wasn't done, though, and came back a short time later to slide another goal in. Literally. After playing a pass back, Pete ran the ball up and delivered another beautiful (adequate) cross to Mister who slid at the last possible moment to sneak the ball into the goal. And the crowd goes crazy. The third and fourth goals were delivered in the second half. Bern was the source of a beautiful power shot from just over the half that made the net at the back of the goal weep in pain. And the crowd goes nuts.

Attending the Street Soccer 945 games is more than watching good soccer, it's a chance to watch transformation at work. As you witness the skills of the players increase, you are also given the opportunity to see their lives change. Regardless of the score, Street Soccer 945 will always win.

To learn more about Street Soccer 945 in Charlotte, NC or to get involved contact Brittany at blarson@urbanministrycenter.org

Tues. Night in NYC

Hi everyone, we have an amazing and free opportunity to enjoy ourselves and help Street Soccer USA, 6-9pm at Le Colonial Restaurant on E. 57th Street and Lexington.
No Cover Charge, first drink bought by our fan Venanzio Ciampa of the Promotion Factory, and specially prepared food by an amazing chef with a calling. Read below and please come out and enjoy. 40% of the bar will be donated to Street Soccer USA.

Read below:

For Xuan Pham, Executive Chef of Le Colonial, the answer is yes. Having earned professional degrees in Paris and working in pharmaceutical companies in France and California, Pham has a scientific understanding of how the body works. When a different opportunity arose, she felt she could better serve people giving them nourishing food rather than drugs.

Born and raised in Saigon, Pham has seen her share of homelessness, poverty and disease and she has a deep interest in supporting these causes. Pham is uniquely qualified to help. With a professional background in both pharmacology and cooking, Pham understands the healing nature of food and how to eat to maintain a healthy body. She is eagerly embracing SSUSA’s mission with this opportunity to make a positive contribution by providing nourishment.

Dance United

One of our advisors, Amy Farkas, of Unicef, shared this article. I thought it was great, especially the second half. Lot's of people don't know that Street Soccer USA started as an art program and that our first team was called Art Works Football Club. Indeed the power of relationships forged through shared experience is at the core of what we do. When human beings affirm each other, hope, dignity, and purpose are abundant and palpable. If recovery, achievement, progress etc. are going to take hold for those stuck in homelessness and poverty, these goals must be cast on a foundation of personal pride and purpose in life.

It no surprise to me that targeted programming around arts and sports combines creativity and discipline in a way that help participants balance the two in their own lives. I am glad we are measuring it and so thrilled that as a society we are starting to take advantage of the power of such activities to build a healthy community.

Man off the Street

I had a meeting today in midtown about the program. As I walked toward the subway a voice called out to me. It was Juan who was part of the SSNYC program and played for SSNYC in this summer's cup. He's now head doorman at the Chanel store. I actually had no idea where that store was believe it or not (even though I knew he worked there), but now I sure do. Here's a photo I snapped of Juan on the job.

SSNYC Looks For 4th Consecutive Win

After last Fridays convincing 14-7 win over formerly first place Team Denmark, SSNYC looks to defeat another first place team. Please come out this Friday and support SSNYC as they try and continued their 3 game winnning streak!!!

Date: Friday March 5

Time:11 pm

Opponent: Tokio Marine

Location: Chelsea Piers

Charlotte's Street Soccer 945 Collaborates with Troop 162

On a sunny but chilly Saturday morning in Charlotte, NC, Kevin Gassaway and Troop 162 spearheaded an effort to build walls for the outdoor Street Soccer court at the Urban Ministry Center. Thanks for all your hard work! Below, Kevin shares his experience.

Today I spent the morning at the Urban Ministry Center with the Street Soccer 945 team and with several members of my Boy Scout Troop 162. We were there building a new wall for the street soccer court since the old one was run down and not in good condition. We cut 2x8's, painted plywood, drilled nails, and put the wall together. Craig(Swagger), Jose, Justin, Osman, Fransisco, Pete, Brittany, and other members of the team helped us out with the project.

After we finished building the wall, Swagger, Pete, and Brittany talked to us about the Street Soccer program. Swagger talked about the confidence that it brought him to play soccer and how it helped him not only on the court, but off it as well. When we finished hearing about his experience in the program, we got to test the walls out with a 3 on 3 Street Soccer Tournament, while we ate lunch with the players. Each team had 2 Boy Scouts and a member of the Street Soccer team. The Czech Republic (Jose, Anthony Dellamea, and Conor Renaghan) beat Mexico (Osman, Fransisco, and Brittany) in a shootout to win the tournament. The wall passed our test and worked out very well. Hopefully it will be helpful in the future as well.

The players were all really fun to play with and taught me a lot. They would help me if I did anything wrong and encouraged me and the rest of the group to do well. My team didn't get to win the tournament, but it was still a lot of fun to get to play with Swagger and all of the other players. Today was a really fun experience and I would love to play with them again, and even help out on the team.

Check out this video to see more.

To learn more about Street Soccer 945 in Charlotte and to get involved, contact Brittany at blarson@urbanministrycenter.org

Doc Wayne League

If you like Sport for Development you must visit this link

1st in Social Entrepreneurship

At the close of the first round Street Soccer USA is positioned in 1st place, about 60 votes ahead of 2nd place in the Social Entrepreneurship Category of Change.org's Ideas to Change America.


Vote for us now, and in the general competition, round 2.

GWU Intern Abroad Chpt. 2

Hilary Moskow is a GWU student interning with Street Soccer USA and chronicling her experience with street soccer in Argentina while studying abroad there. Here's her latest:

Sergio told me that I should come on Tuesday morning at 10AM and I could meet the team then.

So, on Tuesday morning, I figured I would try to make a “good impression” and show up a little early, so I got there around 9:45. Once again, however, the park was empty. At around 10:10, I met someone named Miguel who told me that he knew Sergio and that he should be coming soon. Two more men joined us, Madeas and Cristian, and I found out that they also played on the Street Soccer team. At around 10:30, Sergio arrived. While I was a little taken aback by his lateness, I later discovered that in Argentina, it is actually considered rude to show up early. Go figure.

Sergio was wearing a shirt that read “A ball can change the world,” and by the way that these 8 teammates were looking at him, I could tell that it was true. We talked for a while and he told me all about the organization there and how they were working to change the lives of these incredible people.

After a little bit of talking, the team finally got down to business. They started with drills and asked me if I wanted to join in. Never one to turn down an offer, I did. So I played with the team for about an hour and then Sergio announced that we were going to scrimmage. So for another hour and a half, we played some street soccer. Never have I experienced a game like this, where all of the players are so serious and yet so willing to have fun with each other. Watching them play further showed me how important this organization was to them and what a difference it truly is making in the lives of these individuals.

They all have big dreams for the World Cup in Rio this September and I can tell how hard they are willing to work to succeed. I was so empowered by this experience and tonight I am going back for more- 20 minutes late this time.

Look Out . . . Here Comes "UP TOP"

Wow, we will see how this "snow training" technique translates to 90 degree weather and the fast street soccer pitch in DC.
Way to go Youthlink team. Can't wait to see you soon. You are an inspiration already!

City Snap Shots Blog cover SSNYC Win

Link to City Snaps Shot blog here, a cool blog with insider info on NYC

Here's the snapshot they took from our 11-10 victory Friday night above. That's 2 in a row and 3rd place overall in the league. Go to the blog for the post!