Makeisha Robey- Making An Impact In The West End
The mission of Soccer in the Streets goes far beyond the pitch. One of our biggest impacts is our team providing safe community spaces to enjoy the game of soccer for almost 1,000 Atlanta youth. More importantly, these safe spaces help families thrive. Our first family spotlight is the Robey Family, a dedicated and compassionate family.
Makeisha and Ethan Robey
The mission of Soccer in the Streets goes far beyond the pitch. One of our biggest impacts is our team providing safe community spaces to enjoy the game of soccer for almost 1,000 Atlanta youth.
More importantly, these safe spaces help families thrive.
Our first family spotlight is the Robey Family, a dedicated and compassionate family.
Makeisha Robey is a local Atlanta community leader who is also an Atlanta Land Trust board member, small business owner, teacher, and most importantly, mother of seven. Makeisha understands the power of community and the necessity of healthy relationships between youth and adults. Her new business, The Happy Black Parent, creates a way for parents and kids to play and creatively express themselves in a joyful environment.
If she is not working at Pittsburgh Yards helping local families, you can find Makeisha teaching preschool. If she is not teaching, she is most likely taking her incredibly talented children to the community after-school activities. One of her frequent stops on MARTA is our West End StationSoccer location where her son, Ethan, and her daughter Alicia have participated in our program.
Ethan during West End youth practice
When we sat down with Makeisha, she could not help but smile watching Ethan bolt across the pitch. She mentioned how he has grown from rolling on the field during practice to practicing like a professional at home. Of course, that same moment, Ethan did an incredible log roll as he awaited his turn in a scrimmage.
After a quick laugh, Makeisha continued to share the power of community and how Soccer in the Streets has played a small role in her inspirational journey.
“Soccer In the Streets has given my family an opportunity to experience a sport that would have been otherwise possible to fully participate in”, said Makeisha. “Our entire family is able to learn about the lifestyle that is soccer and my son has found an activity he adores.”
Alicia has also been impacted by the Soccer in the Streets program as she played for the West End program for two years and became a certified referee. Makeshia mentioned, “She takes being a referee very seriously. She really cares. Her outfit was always ready. It improved her sense of authority and responsibility.” Now she is a talented artist. You can see her work at the local Pittsburgh Yards Market!
The last couple of years has been difficult for many families trying to navigate the pandemic. With Makeisha’s kids participating in an online school, consistent practices and games have been so helpful in providing healthy social environments for her children. Beyond the peer to peer social interactions, Makeisha shared,
Coach Rajay going over drills for practice
“Ethan has had the same coach the past three years. Coach Rajay, he cares. Ethan even asks for advice. Realistically, if this field was not here, he wouldn’t be playing soccer.”
Coach Rajay sees potential in all the players, especially Ethan.
“Ethan has developed not only into an amazing player but a teammate. And young man. I have seen him grow over the years and it’s beautiful to see.” said Rajay.
At Soccer in the Streets, our Sport-Based Youth Development model provides an atmosphere for local families where all children can learn a variety of interdependent skills that will help them live in a healthy and prosperous community. One vital component of our SBYD model is the focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)- defined as the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to a successful life.
Last season, 96 percent of West End players surveyed had "Advanced Sport SEL Capacities," meaning they scored higher and were more adept in the capacities of Goal-Orientation and Self-Confidence.
The efforts of Makeisha and Coach Rajay show how the Soccer in the Streets family joins together to create pathways of success for our local communities. Soccer truly does have the power to change the trajectory of life even amidst significant challenges. Our team will continue to learn from leaders like Makeisha and her commitment to providing these important opportunities for children.
TO SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW
Soccer in the Streets’ Annual Footy Ball Gala Raises Over $275,000 For Youth In Atlanta’s Underserved Communities
Soccer in the Streets held its annual Footy Ball Gala on Saturday, November. 13th. The silent auction and gala, hosted by Atlanta United’s President Darren Eales and Bally Sports Broadcaster & Former MLS Player Maurice Edu, raised $275,000 to establish a more level playing field for Atlanta’s youth.
Bally Sports Reporter ,Maurice Edu; Board Member, Bill Ford & Atlanta United President, Darren Eales
Soccer in the Streets held its annual Footy Ball Gala on Saturday, November. 13th. The silent auction and gala, hosted by Atlanta United’s President Darren Eales and Bally Sports Broadcaster & Former MLS Player Maurice Edu, raised $275,000 to establish a more level playing field for Atlanta’s youth.
The event attracted over two hundred and fifty guests from the city’s soccer family and those wanting to see change in Atlanta’s under-resourced communities. VIP panelists Darren Eales and Maurice Edu were one of the main highlights sharing their experiences of the beautiful game.
“It was a pleasure taking part in this year’s FootyBall Gala in support of our partner Soccer in the Streets,” said Atlanta United president Darren Eales. “Our club is committed to providing greater access to the sport of soccer and to strengthening ties to our community through the game we love. The opportunities that Soccer in the Streets offers to young people, and the work they are doing to grow the game at the grassroots level is inspiring. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to level the playing field in Atlanta and beyond.”
Maurice Edu & Darren Eales speaking during VIP Event
In addition, Maurice gave insight on the growth of the game since he came through the ranks and both panelists provided the crowd with some foresight on things like the future growth of MLS and the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
“After learning about the incredible work Soccer in the Streets is doing, I was honored to be able to attend the event and meet everything making this possible. The opportunity they’re providing these young kids goes beyond just the sport of soccer”, said Edu. “I was fortunate to play this beautiful game but more importantly grow and learn so many life lessons that helped mold me into the man I am today but it is because I had the opportunity.”
The event saw the presentation of the Annual Napolitano Award. This award is presented to a young person who embodies leadership, service, and enrichment around the game of soccer. Moses Buraruhanya, aged 17, a Clarkston F.C youth player and referee was the recipient of this award.
Director of Programs Tony Carter and Clarkston Coach Adam Adam presenting award to Moses
Soccer in the Streets, Director of Programs Tony Carter spoke of the leadership qualities shown by Moses.
“Moses goes out of his way for others”, said Carter. “ He works on volunteer projects and helps other youth players with their skills. His initiative is an inspiration to other young people on his team and in his community. We are proud of the young man he has become throughout the years.”
Organizations attending and supporting the event included: Northside Athlete Foundation, Cahaba Wealth Management, Connolly Family Foundation, KGC Capital, Mercedes- Benz of Buckhead, Story on the Square, Salesforce, JB Solutions, Brightstone Homes, Integral, T. Dallas Smith & Co. Gratus Capital, Georgia Power, Contemporary Gardens, The MET Atlanta. Fallas Family Vision, and KTS.
Event attendees during gala
The Individual sponsors were: Vicki and Joe Hall, Beth and Carper Pope, Valerie and Vernon O’Neal, Katherine and Tom Dierdorff, Jean and Jason Hanges, Diane and Brian Macaluso, Bill and Michelle Ford, Roberta and Reed Deupree, The Kirsch Family, Dana, and Bill Tucker, and The Kirsch Family.
“It was a spectacular and successful night for our second annual gala”, said Soccer in the Streets Executive Director, Phil Hill. “We are thankful to have the opportunity to bring the Atlanta soccer community together to raise money for youth players.”
PhotoCred: @gracemariephotographyco
StationSoccer Design Partner Wins Award and Expands Support of the Project
Soccer in the Streets is very proud to announce one of our partners, HKS Architects was recently awarded an AIA design award for their design work towards the StationSoccer project. HKS has worked alongside partners like the Atlanta City Design Studio to help bring best-in-class design work to help expand the vision of StationSoccer to include elements of developing the built environment with components like classrooms, community gardens and social impact spaces.
Partners from Marta, City of Atlanta and Soccer in the Streets were on hand to support HKS at this years AIA awards
Soccer in the Streets is very proud to announce one of our partners, HKS Architects was recently awarded an AIA design award for their design work towards the StationSoccer project. HKS has worked alongside partners like the Atlanta City Design Studio to help bring best-in-class design work to help expand the vision of StationSoccer to include elements of developing the built environment with components like classrooms, community gardens, and social impact spaces.
A few years ago, the City Design Studio team approached Soccer in the Streets about connecting with HKS in regard to a design fellowship program. This fellowship opportunity would bring together a true collaborative table with public, private, and nonprofit partners providing opportunities to learn and expand ideas around project design.
The HKS fellow program gave student fellows an opportunity to re-imagine HE Holmes MARTA station with a StationSoccer concept. Students gathered over three days and conceptualized plans for what is now an unused parking area at the station.
HE Holmes Rendering
The HKS fellowship led to HKS teaming up with Soccer in the Streets as part of their Citizen HKS program. This program is an impact initiative whereby HKS makes a global impact by providing services and resources through its employees in communities of need. In terms of Atlanta, the HKS team based here was able to help with design renderings for our StationSoccer renderings for our train car project at West End station.
In addition, HKS employees also worked with Atlanta City Studio and Soccer in the Streets kids on a concept design session whereby kids were able to visit the Atlanta City studio in downtown Atlanta via MARTA to take part in a train car design classroom session. HKS also provided Soccer in the Streets with a Nature of Place study which provided much-needed information about everything from the built environment to health, ecology, energy, and resources including demographics in and around our current and future projects
Atlanta City Studio design session with West End youth players
Last year HKS provided renderings for the StationSoccer Lindbergh project which we were able to build and provide programs for in late 2021. More information about some of this HKS work and their involvement can also be found in this blog by their staff which also quotes Sheba Ross, an HKS employee that has provided fantastic levels of support in this partnership -
“Sometimes a gratifying experience in the real estate professional does not involve a building, but it always involves people,” said Sheba Ross, StationSoccer project director for HKS Atlanta. “The StationSoccer project has given us a seamless platform to envision inclusive blueprints for the future through active engagement with game-changers in our city.”
More recently HKS was not only the recipient of an AIA award for design for StationSoccer but they also expressed an interest in being donors and funders through their global Citizen HKS employee network. Just last month HKS raised $40,000 through the CitizenHKS platform to provide funding for our classroom project at the West End Station.
Decommissioned train car rendering at StationSoccer- West End
That project will be taking off in the Spring of 2022! Sanjay Patel - Soccer in the Streets Director of Strategic Projects added,
“It goes without saying, partners like HKS and Atlanta City Studio are a big part of helping make the StationSoccer project come alive. Whether its design form or interactive engagements with the communities we serve - it’s a privilege to be able to work with partners that are intentional about helping make community spaces that were unused, functional community gathering hubs that are now actively used for soccer, and more.”
More information on the classroom and expansion of StationSoccer will be coming in the near future, we are excited to share as we continue to work with partners focused on making a difference.