Font Size:

Los Angeles

Program Director: Andrea Marchetti

Coaches: Johnny Figueroa (SSUSA National Team 2008), Gerardo Gomez

Year of Participation: Third

Level of Programming: 2D

About the Program

In 2008, non-profit Jovenes, Inc. partnered with Street Soccer USA to found the first team in Los Angeles which competes under its sponsor’s name. Jovenes is focused on engaging at-risk homeless youth in the community and encouraging them to adopt healthier lifestyles. By extension, the Los Angeles Street Soccer USA program promotes discipline, goal setting, and team building through sports, and offers an innovative method to help youth gain control of their lives.

Under the direction of their coach, Johnny Figueroa (a product of Street Soccer USA himself), the core 8-player team currently trains once a week and regularly competes in friendly matches against labor centers and shelters around the city to encourage connections between Street Soccer USA players and individuals from other organizations. With a collection of women regularly joining the team in practices, the Los Angeles program also carries the possibility of a women’s team.

The Los Angeles Street Soccer USA team boasts a strong record of success on and off the field. In 2009, they traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete in the US Cup and came in fourth among 16 teams from across the country. Based on his performance on and off the field, one player was granted a spot on the 8-player US National Team roster and traveled to Milan, Italy, to represent the US in the 2009 Homeless World Cup. In 2008, Los Angeles placed second in the US Cup. Two members of the team were selected to the US National Team and competed in the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

Jovenes is committed to supporting Street Soccer USA in Los Angeles. The growth of Street Soccer USA in Los Angeles and across the Street Soccer USA network has raised the nation’s awareness of homelessness and brought attention to a proven strategy for addressing the needs of at-risk youth.

Results

Recognizing that players were motivated to participate in the 2009 US Cup but many were lacking the paperwork necessary to secure a job, Coach Figueroa required all players to collect and process the necessary documents for employment in order to compete in the tournament. “They needed to show me that they really wanted to help themselves off the field and were taking steps to improve their lives,” said Coach Figueroa. As a result, five of the six players that traveled to the 2009 US Cup are self-sufficient and off the streets, holding steady jobs and living independently in rented homes.