Life Goals
While watching the documentary
Kicking It on ESPN early in the spring of 2009, Chris Mann, a Volunteers of America youth advocate in Greater Sacramento, learned of the Homeless USA Soccer Cup to be held in Washington, D.C. But he never imagined that he would coach his own street soccer team, earning national recognition. Even more impressive, by September, one of his own players would receive international acclaim and represent the team abroad.
At the Mather Community, a 182-residenthousing facility for previously homeless men and women, Mann shows others how to live with passion, not only while he is on the job, but in his off time as well. Inspired by the documentary, he decided to gather a team of dedicated and successful street soccer players to compete in the sporting event. The men chosen to play on Mann’s team successfully completed challenging 12-step recovery programs; they now lead healthy, independent lives. Mann hopes to teach the resident sat the Mather Community how to set goals, and do something that inspires and fills them with excitement. As a coach, he strives to teach his team, the Mather Mohawks, how to score some goals of their own.
An avid soccer fan for the past 35 years, Mann was ecstatic to share his passion for the game with others. In July, his team participated in the HomelessUSA Soccer Cup in the nation’s capital. And as if that incredible experience was not enough, Wesley Colter, the team’s goalie, received an invitation to play at the Homeless World Cup in Milan, Italy in September. Mann’s dedication, commitment and joy in sharing his love for the sport of soccer translated into other aspects of his players’ personalities as well. At the national event, Mann’s team took home the Fair Play Award. “They showed their excitement and that they cared,” Mann said of his team. “We watched every other game and showed our support. They just became a fan favorite.”
The team from St. Louis gave the Sacramento team a state flag, paralleling the confluence of the Missouri, Meramec and Mississippi rivers to the new friendship between the teams. To Mann, this moment defined the work he had put into coaching his team. “We called it magical,” he said. The flag now hangs in one of the dining halls of the Mather Community, a constant reminder of the deep friendship between the two teams and the bond they now share.
According to Mann, people are like onions whose layers have to be peeled back. “We need to uncover the onion and see what that passion may be for people,” he said. “Providing food, shelter and jobs only begins the process of helping to reintegrate former prisoners into society or working with previously homeless individuals. Whatever your passion is, teach it,” he said. “People want to be able to express themselves, and that may be through knitting, sports, art, joining a book club, doing hair and nails. I just believe people need to be creative.”
All six players on Mann’s team go to school or to work and practice soccer twice a week. Their ages range from 25 to 45, and each of them lived on the streets at some point in his life. Mann is certain these men will never do so again. He believes he has found a path in helping the formerly homeless learn how they can expand their social lives.
Next season, Mann plans to continue coaching his team of six as well as starting three new street soccer teams of foster children and those in juvenile justice programs.“I asked myself, ‘How do I stop the cycle of homelessness?’”Mann said. His answers to reach out to foster children who will receive emancipation this year.
Approximately two thirds of the 600young adults emancipated this year will go homeless and one in five will be incarcerated by the age of 21. In order to break this cycle, Mann wants to extend a hand to these young men and women as soon as they start living independently. He hopes to partner with the Laverne Adolfo Youth Housing Programs in Sacramento, and raise $30,000 to send his three soccer teams to the national soccer cup next year. He also seeks to encourage more women to participate.
Making sure to instill a sense of purpose and belonging to a team in each of his players, Mann seeks to teach them self-worth and compassion. He teaches his players to show the spirit of Godin all that they do as they pray beforeevery game. “My mantra to my team is: Keep doing what you’re doing and don’tforget where you came from.” Throughhis passion to help others, Mann continuesto support each team member asthey strive to reach their life goals.
