1. We engage youth and adults in the immigrant and refugee community, using soccer to build trust, belonging, and purpose — serving with humility as we meet people where they are.
2. We walk alongside our players, using weekly soccer sessions as a foundation to build relationships and connect them to resources that support their overall well-being; building together as we strengthen community bonds.
3. We develop and empower community leaders through intentional pathways for leadership, academic and professional development, and spiritual growth; fostering hope as we encourage them to step confidently into their God-given potential.
Street Soccer 658 was founded in 2004 at the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, NC as the nation’s first year-round, life-skills based soccer program for individuals experiencing homelessness. In 2017 Project 658 became the new home for Street Soccer and the program was re-branded as Street Soccer 658. It is recognized as the founding program for Street Soccer USA, a network of 16 similar programs across the United States. Through our sport-for-development platform, we believe that meaningful social change can be enacted not just at the policy level, but also in individual people’s daily lives. Therefore, Street Soccer as an organization is dedicated to meeting our players where they are in life, providing a reliable outlet, reinforcing positive behavior, and building a supportive network within the communities we serve. Our ultimate goal is to effect sustainable, long term change in the lives of our players.
