It's Our Money

Name of Your Organization:

Street Soccer USA

Overview of the Project - Please provide a brief description of the project.

• The Street League will use the power of sports to engage youth in the process of creating, planning, then participating in the soccer tournament of their dreams. This series of tournaments will provide access for hundreds of participants from several marginalized neighborhoods in New York City ranging in ages 7-18, to participate in a tournament created by their peers. Through employing Street Soccer USA’s plan for safe playing and following along with the CDc’s guidelines we can give access to a free-to-play tournament in a time when the pandemic has left our youth with little to no options for physical activities. In addition the process of organizing this series of free to play tournaments will also provide an opportunity for twelve college ready teens from underserved communities to learn leadership skills that will serve them in college and beyond (Youth will receive a stipend for their work).  

Which of the following issues does your project address?

• Issue 1 - Addressing Mental Health
• Issue 2 - Preparation for College and/or Career
• Issue 3 - Youth Advocacy Promotion

[The Street league will address issue 2, Preparation for College and Career ]

Youth Engagement - Please explain how you will engage youth in the planning and implementation of the project.

This direction was a result of a zoom meeting where our participants ranging from ages 8-16 were asked “How would they spend $20,000 in their community?”. This idea for a large inter-community soccer tournament was further developed by their coaches into the Street League by kids for kids. In Creating this tournament Street Soccer USA’s five Site managers representing Claremont Village, Sunset Park, Flatbush Gardens and East New York, will nominate 2 senior participants (of college ready age) from each neighborhood or 12 in total to act as members of a Youth Council. The Youth Council members will be trained and empowered to organize, execute then participate in the same free-to-play tournament. Street soccer USA coaches will guide those nominated through the process and provide regular check-ins, advice, support and a debrief that will include a resume building session. These participants will be awarded a stipend for travel and time. Additionally this street league created by youth will further engage over a hundred participants throughout New York City (participation is open and free for anyone).

The task of creating the tournaments will be broken down into 5 phases; planning, recruiting, finalizing decisions, executing/competing and a debrief. 

The planning phase includes finding and scouting suitable spaces in which to host matches, acquiring and confirming permits where needed, scheduling games, staffing matches (referees, DJ, Host) and catering for the event. After this has been completed and approved by the site managers and the first assessment and feedback meeting is complete they will move on to phase 2.

The recruitment phase is where youth councils will spread the word about the events by flyering or word of mouth and aim to reach their total participant targets discussed in the logistical phase. After they have completed they will move on the third phase.

The third phase includes finalizing decisions such as permits, food and catering, equipment pick-up prep. 

The fourth phase includes competing and enjoying the fruits of their labor.

The fifth and final stage is a debrief in which site managers and youth council members discuss their experience followed by a resume building session.

Budget - Your total project budget must equal $20,000 to be placed on the ballot for a youth vote. Please provide a brief description of what the funds would be used for to successfully implement your project. You will also need to download, fill in, and attach a full budget using this template (External link).

Street League Budgeplate_for_Org_Submissions (4) (External link)

Timeline- Please describe the timeline for the implementation and completion of the project. All work for this project must be completed by June 30, 2021, which is the end of the city’s fiscal year and the deadline for the funds to be spent.

[February 1st- 8th nominate leaders from each neighborhood and virtual orientation

February 9th- 16th coaches will facilitate meetings and delegate responsibilities for planning

February 17th- 24th planning

February 18th- February 26th planning and recruiting

February 26th - February 28th finalize details

March 6th First tournament

March 20th - second tournament

April 17th- third tournament

May 1st - fourth tournament

May 15th - fifth tournament

May 29th - sixth tournament

June 5th, debrief, resume building and stipend awarded

Project Activity Alignment - How does your project align with at least one of the following topics:

• Leadership skills development: organizing & advocacy trainings
• Stewardship of public spaces: public parks, transportation, etc.
• Youth and student engagement
• Civic education and advocacy
• Community outreach involving residents that have been historically underrepresented in or underserved by city government and its processes

[The process of Creating A free-to-play street league that requires a recruitment phase, scheduling phase and staffing phase will develop leadership skills in addition to increasing their involvement in stewardship of public spaces where games will take place.

What is your organization's area of focus?

• Children and youth related
• Advocacy and organizing
• Arts and culture
• Civic engagement
• Education and literacy
• Emergency management and disaster response
• Employment and workforce development
• Environment and sustainability
• Faith-based
• Food access
• Health and medicine
• Homelessness and/or affordable housing
• Human rights
• Human services
• Immigrants and/or refugees
• Justice related
• Legal services
• People with disabilities
• Senior services
• Women's issues

Street Soccer USA is a non-profit organization that strengthens communities through the use of soccer. Some areas of focus include; Children and youth, Human services, advocacy and organizing, homelessness and affordable housing, Employment and workforce development, education and literacy, legal services, immigrants and refugees.

Project Activity Alignment to CEC’s Mission: Please select which activity the project aligns with most closely.

[The Street League most aligns with, Leadership skills development: organizing & advocacy trainings]

Affirmations - Type "YES" below each statement to affirm that you are eligible to appear on the ballot for this process.

I confirm that my organization will be registered in the NYC Payee Information Portal and in PassPort, NYC’s online procurement system, in order to receive funding from the City of New York.

[YES]

I confirm that my organization is able to front the costs of implementing this project. Organizations will be paid based on deliverables. 

[YES]

Completion of Deliverables: I understand all deliverables must be completed by June 30th, 2020.

[YES]

I understand a condition of funding includes submission of a final report upon project completion, and participating in a debrief session with the CEC.

[YES]