Earlier this month, a group of public school students who are in Educational Alliance’s afterschool programs throughout Lower Manhattan came together to play in their soccer league’s very first tournament. That might not sound like very much to those of us who come from a world in which overscheduled kids take on many extracurriculars. But to these elementary school students – who don’t have easy access to sports, arts, and other enrichment programs – a soccer tournament means a lot.
New York State’s constitution requires all children to have access to a “sound basic education.” That means kids must learn fundamental skills like reading and math and civics. But that’s really the bare minimum. It’s not enough just to give public school students the basics. They need enrichment opportunities to help them develop a full array of lifelong skills necessary to flourish in the adult world.
That’s where Educational Alliance’s special soccer league comes into play.
Soccer doesn’t just teach kids how to kick a ball or score a goal. It opens their eyes to the value of teamwork, teaching them how to work together, and empowering them with confidence in the process.
For the past several months, Educational Alliance trustee Joseph Cellura and his colleagues have graciously taken time out of their busy days at Allied World Insurance to jumpstart the soccer league as part of our afterschool programs.
Joe recruited Danny Ospina, a PE teacher at one of our local community schools. In the video above, I speak to Coach Danny about how the soccer league came together, why it’s so important to these kids, and the ways in which soccer can teach valuable life skills that matter so much to these kids.
Best,
Rich Baum
President & CEO, Educational Alliance