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Since its founding in 2009, South Bronx United (SBU) has consistently grown to serve the needs of more young people and their families in the South Bronx in new ways. Drawn to SBU through the competitive and recreational soccer opportunities, youth and families are supported with academics, leadership development and interest exploration, immigration legal representation and case management, social service referrals, and social emotional learning. 

2020 was an extraordinary year for everyone. It began auspiciously for South Bronx United, on stage at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, Germany where the organization was awarded the 2020 Sport for Good Award. Less than a month later, SBU was forced to shut down all of its programming as the South Bronx, became the global epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, one that has disproportionately impacted low-income Black and brown communities. The rest of 2020 turned into a whirlwind of tragedy, disappointment, stress, but also hope—inspired by the leadership and resilience of SBU student-athletes.

In spite of COVID-19 pandemic, SBU has continued to offer services and remote programming for young people, their families, and the South Bronx community. The staff has distributed laptops, financial resources, and food, hosted online resource-sharing workshops in Spanish and English, counseled students and families, developed and executed remote learning plans, and led activities to keep the minds and bodies of our young people engaged. Currently, SBU is facilitating in-person, outdoor soccer programs, and hybrid in-person and remote academic programs. 

SBU's programs include:
  • 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 SBU Pre-Academy, competitive soccer teams positive coach mentors for third through fifth graders that prepare youth to transition into the SBU Academy.
  • 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 (GYL), since 2014, gives to adolescent youth and immigrant teens a recreational outlet while supporting with immigration and social service referrals. In 2020, SBU plans to add college access support to teens in the GYL program.
  • 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. 
To read more about SBU or find out how to register for programs, visit our website.