Dele Olabisi, President Akron Inner City 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 Fundraising, Strategic Planning, Partnership Development, Coaching Education, Life Skills Programming, and Measurements and Evaluations.

It was an overwhelming experience being among the 48 inner city soccer clubs shearing ideas on how to better positively impact the lives of children in the inner city, and how to better face the challenges that we all face.

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 the 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 the Akron Inner City Soccer Club

Akron Inner City Soccer Club was founded in the fall of 1999. Our goals included expanding the sport of soccer to the Akron inner city children boys and girls 5 through 14 with or without ability to pay. Through the generosity of foundations and individuals this has been made possible. By using the sport of soccer as a tool, the Akron Inner City Soccer Club has been able to change lives through mentoring and community service, support an active lifestyle to combat obesity and other preventable illnesses. We offer a positive activity over a non-productive activity. The club promotes teamwork and a hard work ethic through regular games and practices. Since 1999 over three thousand youth in the city of Akron have participated, and we are witnessing the positive impacts to the youth in our program. Visit us On Line @ www.inner-citysoccer.org or send e-mail to akroninnercitysc@gmail.com.

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 underserved 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/site/c.ipIQKXOvFoG/b.5474295/k.7E3D/Urban_Soccer_Collaborative.htm

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 www.ussoccerfoundation.org.