Street Soccer USA is a non-profit organization that was founded in North Carolina and has expanded into 16 cities. The organization uses sport to provide an outlet for homeless youth, at-risk youth and those in the migrant community.
Executive Director of the Chicago chapter, Otto Rodriguez, shares the impact the group has had on him and local kids.
"It is a fun sport. It's a team sport and we all can just grow and learn from each other from it. That's what's it's all about is just having that kind of community that we can just learn off each other, understand how to kick a ball, how to play the sport, that's what we want to show them every time," says Rodriguez.
Besides physical activity and team building, Rogriguez notices benefits that go beyond the soccer field and into everyday life, for him personally and for the youth he coaches.
"We use that to change lives through sport. Also, we use that sport just to build jobs, access to education, and also just having things like this where they can have a safe place to play." He goes on to say, "Soccer has done a lot for me. I played all my life. It's given me confidence, it's given me leadership abilities, it's given me skills that I've translated into my work life and obviously this life. So with all that it's given me I've been trying to impact and just translate that to all the kids as well."
The Chicago group has over 125 youth in the program and is always in need of volunteers, coaches, equipment and donations.
"We do work with homeless youth and homeless adults and people in the migrant situation, so anything helps," says Rodriguez. "It just brings a smile to your face when you can see the change and you can build something for each individual, each child."
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