Los Angeles

Program Director: Andrea Marchetti

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

Year of Participation: Second

Level of Programming: 2D

In 2008, Jovenes, Inc. started a street soccer program which provides outreach to at-risk and homeless youth in our community, and promotes a healthy lifestyle. The Street Soccer Los Angeles Program promotes discipline, goal setting, and team building through sports, and offers an innovative method to help youth gain control of their lives.

The growth of this international sport has raised global consciousness about homelessness, and become a proven strategy that addresses the needs of at-risk youth.  Jovenes, Inc. represented Los Angeles in the 2008 US Homeless Cup, where our team placed second, and two members of our team traveled to Melbourne, Australia this past December to play on the US National Team in the 2008 Homeless World Cup. As a partner in the network of Street Soccer USA, Jovenes, Inc. is committed to bring Street Soccer to Los Angeles, and will compete against teams from fifteen cities in the 2009 SSUSA Cup.

Meet some of this year's LA Street Soccer team

Elvin 

Elvin is 18 years old and full of energy. He is from Honduras , and loves to play soccer. He immigrated to the United States two years ago, and is eager go to school and learn English.  Elvin is always supporting the team, regardless of if he in on the field or on the sidelines, and is committed to working hard in practice. He wants to be part of the Los Angeles Street Soccer Team so he can go to Washington and represent the city of Los Angeles . While Elvin is always looking to score, he is becoming a better team player, and his passing skills are improving with every practice. His goal is to go to Washington and be elected to play for the US National Team in Italy .  

Carlos 

Carlos is from Tijuana , Mexico , and he has been playing soccer ever since he was a little boy. He is 19 year old, and is enrolled in college. He is taking art classes and plays soccer in his spare time, but he hopes to make to the college team this summer. He is a talented forward and he hopes to score lots of goals in Washington . During the last training session, he score most of the goals and he also assisted on four other goals. He is now living his uncle and found a part-time job at a local cabinet store. He is looking forward to Washington DC .

Jose 

Jose, 19, is from Durango , Mexico and has been living in the United States since 2006. Jose became permanent resident and now he is working to get his GED, he is enrolled Evan adult school. He is very excited to be attending school, and playing soccer has helped motivate him even more. He is very eager to go to Washington and represent Los Angeles . “I would like to score lots of goals to bring the trophy to Los Angeles , I really like soccer. I would like to be one of those fortunate players that will have the opportunity to represent USA in Italy .” José is one of the first players to show up for practice, he also has volunteered with the Passback program with Chivas USA .

Jorge

 At age 14 I lived in placement due to some poor choices I made in my life at that time and family issues. I entered a program of discipline and also therapy to fix my personal and family issues. When I was 17, a social worker placed me in a group home. I attended probation high school from the 9^th to 12^th grade, and due to my good behavior and good school grades I was placed in a public high school for my last semester of high school where I also graduated with honors and on stage….I lived in a Transitional House until I was 19 when I decided to live with one of my uncles in LA so I could be closer to my family. My uncle decided to move out in November of 2008 and I asked my parents to stay with them till I had a place to stay. I stayed with them, but shortly after 2 weeks I was told by my parents they didn’t want me in their home so I had to take my things out. I took my things and didn’t know what to do then and at last I remember that I had a cousin whom I hadn’t seen for about 3-4 years and asked him if I could keep my things there while I find a place to stay. He said yes and so I was able to go shower there and change clothes while I went to work even if I had to sleep on the street at night.  I also started drinking a lot and I was avoiding my family a lot. I didn’t want to talk to my parents. After 3 months of sleeping on the street, I started drinking more, and when my cousin asked me how things were going and I told him the truth.  He granted me a place to stay even though I continued drinking and in denial of my problems. I had a job but not enough to cover my own place and so I started to pay my cousin $200 a month to stay at his place. Since I was there I started to continue school and I got my life back together and started to go to therapy and stop drinking. He helped out to become myself again and now I am with him and his family and we are getting along pretty fine. I loved soccer since I was young and even thought I have never been on a team I think this would be a really good help to see if I can put into action what I have practiced at the parks with my friends…..