Compton, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/27/2010 -- Mike Herman, President and founder of Compton United Soccer Club joined 73 passionate individuals representing 48 other committed organizations from across the country for The 4th Annual Urban Soccer Symposium held in Washington DC April 21st – 23rd. The symposium was presented by the Urban Soccer Collaborative and The U.S. Soccer Foundation.
This national event was designed to help develop new programs and strengthen already existing ones who are using soccer as a tool for positive youth development in under-resourced communities. The Urban Soccer Symposium is the only national event that provides resources, trainings, information, and networking opportunities specifically addressing the issues facing these programs. Participants benefited from expert Panel discussions that included continued education in the fields of Fund raising, Strategic Planning, Partnership Development, Coaching Education, Life Skills Programming, and Measurements and Evaluations.
“This was an amazing time to see all of what is happening around the country and world with soccer-based youth development. It was a time of inspiration and challenge” said Herman.
The Urban Soccer Collaborative and the U.S. Soccer Foundation have joined forces to develop strategies, practices, and resources that will yield measurable and sustainable results among the populations of children they strive to serve.
“The response to this symposium is another significant step forward in mobilizing a movement and realizing the potential of soccer to impact positive social change. The compassion and commitment of the local program providers is inspiring. Now we must digest this feast of reason and use it to feed to needs of young people in under resourced communities across the country. Tony Williams, Urban Soccer Collaborative, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The power of soccer to shape the direction of young lives was highlighted by DeAndre Harrison , a youth leader from Soccer in the Streets in Atlanta , Georgia. Speaking as a Symposium panelist DeAndre said “ There I was just minding my own business on my way to prison, and these guys showed up rolled a ball out and before I knew it I was saved ”
About Compton United Soccer Club
Compton United Soccer Club exists to use soccer for social change and to help the City of Compton live up to its full potential. As the program develops soccer players into top level competitors they are granted opportunities not normally afforded to youth from a community such as Compton. Through Compton United's “Five Stages of Development” (Athletic, Academic, Character, and Leadership Development, for the ultimate goal of Community Development), these urban athletes are grown into college recruits, college graduates, great parents and spouses and business and community leaders. For more info please visit http://www.comptonunited.org.
About the Urban Soccer Collaborative
The mission of the Urban Soccer Collaborative is to support and promote educational soccer programs for children and youth in under served communities through a cooperative platform designed to maximize opportunities, resources, and standards of excellence. Since being founded in 2008 with 10 members , Today the Urban Soccer Collaborative has over 60 member organizations serving over 30,000 children in under resourced communities across the U.S. For more information, please visit http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org/urbansoccerprograms
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1994 to manage the surplus funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. As the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the U.S., the Foundation has invested more than $51 million in the game, supporting hundreds of projects in every state in the country. The Foundation supports programs and field building projects with a special emphasis on serving youth in economically disadvantaged urban communities. For more information, or to donate online, please visit http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org.
Media Contacts
Compton United Soccer Club, Mike Herman 310.402.2872 mike.herman@comptonunited.org
Urban Soccer Collaborative, Karen Pope, 703.509.3626 urbansoccerinfo@gmail.com