Mission
South Bronx United uses soccer as a tool for social change. South Bronx United aims to help youth build character, teamwork, and leadership so that they can succeed in high school, college, careers, their community and beyond. South Bronx United strives to promote educational achievement, health and wellness, and character development through activities on and off the soccer field and to unite a diverse group of individuals and an incredibly diverse community toward common positive goals.
Purpose
South Bronx United (SBU) addresses the needs of youth and families in a community that, as of the last U.S. Census, was the nation’s poorest congressional district and ranked 430th out of 434 districts nationwide in health and wellbeing (Gallup-Healthways Poll, 2014). Educational outcomes lag far behind the rest of the city and state, with the lowest math and English test scores, a 56 percent high school graduation rate, and a 17 college readiness rate (NYS Department of Education, 2016). These disparities have contributed to the highest unemployment rate in the city
In a district that would rank as the nation’s 22nd largest city, South Bronx youth also have a staggering lack of access to athletic opportunities. In 2009, while serving as a public school teacher in the South Bronx, co-founder Andrew So saw that his students of mostly immigrant backgrounds had no organized soccer programs to participate in. Many schools fail to offer adequate sports programming. Most out-of-school options are unaffordable.
Programs
- The SBU Academy, the organization’s core program, provides academic enrichment, mentoring, college-access, social-emotional learning, and social service referrals to 190 youth all year-round.
- The College Success Program supports alumni of the SBU Academy, young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, with college and career counseling, professional mentorship, advocacy, and career workshops.
- The Recreational Soccer Program, since 2010, offers soccer at three locations beginning at age four in a safe and structured environment, in conjunction with annual educational and community events.
- The Global Youth League, since 2014, gives to adolescent youth and immigrant teens a recreational outlet while supporting with immigration and social service referrals.
- The Select Soccer Program, competitive soccer teams positive coach mentors for third through fifth graders that prepare youth to transition into the SBU Academy.
- The SBU Community Schools, since 2015, facilitates afterschool soccer and health or character development twice per week at three schools in the South Bronx.
To specifically address the needs faced by immigrant youth, SBU also screens youth and their families for eligibility for immigration relief and provides direct legal support. In 2015, SBU received recognition from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), now the Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP), at the United States Department of Justice, as one of 25 city agencies permitted to represent individuals before immigration court with accredited, non-attorney staff.
Accomplishments
In February 2020, South Bronx United was honored as the recipient of the annual
Laureus Sport for Good Award in Berlin, Germany. The award recognizes one nonprofit annually that exemplifies the mission of using sports for social good. Several other organizations have recognized SBU for its work and impact in the community. In 2018, SBU received the 2nd Annual Impact Award from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, alongside fellow recipients from the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Seattle Housing Authority. Since 2014, SBU has been a member of the SparkYouth NYC (formerly the Catalog for Giving), which supports high potential, small youth organizations in the city. SBU has also received commendations from the Bronx Borough President’s Office and the New York Yankees.
To read more about SBU or find out how to register for programs, visit our
website.
