For the last several years, Minnesota United, along with presenting partner Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and several other local organizations, have sent licensed youth coaches out into the community with gear and good vibes to conduct community clinics. These free camps help spread the beautiful game to all parts of our beloved region, and incorporate various soccer and sports-based organizations throughout the Twin Cities.
Along with Blue Cross MN, each community clinic has a partner organization that helps host, making these events possible. As we prepare for another year of these clinics, we wanted to share a bit about each of our hosts who are making a difference in our community through the beautiful game.
What started as a group of friends playing futsal in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis has blossomed into something far bigger. Playing together turned into hosting youth clinics, bringing kids to MNUFC games, and providing them with school supplies. Now, with teams and leagues for kids of all ages and backgrounds, Futsal Society continues to provide a sense of belonging and togetherness for the people it serves, even partnering with Fawkes Alley Coffee to give players a chance to have career mentorship at a young age.
Kickers FC is a youth soccer club based in Brooklyn Park, where they provide a player-centered approach to coaching and developing the next generation of soccer players in the Twin Cities. With programs available for kids aged 2.5 to 14, Kickers have cultivated a community to give young players a platform from which they can grow into the beautiful game.
Between youth programming, college showcases, and international soccer competitions, Karen FA has been a beacon for the beauty of the beautiful game since it was founded in 2019. With a mission to uplift underserved communities and athletes that may not normally have access to soccer in the US, Karen FA has helped reunite a displaced people group and remind us how powerful sports can be. Their story goes far beyond the sport of soccer; along with their website, you can check out this article to really dive into the meaningful work they’re doing.
The mission at Mi Casa is stated simply: to serve the underserved. By promoting healthy lifestyles through mental health awareness, healthy eating, and active living in an environment that promotes inclusion and racial equity, they hope to create a healthy, thriving community. They’ve engaged in a wide range of initiatives to accomplish this goal over the last 15 years, including the use of soccer as a means to connect and uplift.
By providing more than $30 million worth of sports equipment, tickets, grants, and camps, UHL has shown their commitment to ensuring that the children of military service members have every opportunity to participate in the game that they love. While partnering with MNUFC for these clinics is just a small part of the work they do, it’s an extension of their desire to bring the joy of sports to everyone.
This article would be incomplete without recognizing the work of presenting sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. By providing shirts for every camper and bringing a top-tier environment to every camp, Blue Cross MN not only makes these clinics possible, but makes them fun for everyone involved. As the summer goes on, be on the lookout for more community news to see how the beautiful game is impacting our neck of the woods.
