Building on existing community projects in New York and Atlanta, the new initiatives will see Manchester City work alongside local NGO partners to create opportunities for young people to get active, build confidence and improve their wellbeing through football.
At the heart of each programme will be Young Leaders, young community football coaches who will receive training and support to positively impact young people in their own communities.
In July, 28 Young Leaders from across City’s US community projects came together for a week of leadership and football training at the Young Leaders Summit, experiencing Manchester City while developing the skills to create positive change through football.
In Dallas, Manchester City will work with Puede Network, an organisation empowering young people through education and opportunities to grow.
Adan Gonzalez, Executive Director of Puede Network, said: “This is a proud day for our neighborhood. I’m grateful to City Football Group for seeing what we see every day - young people with enormous potential and families who sacrifice everything for them.
“Our community earned this chance, and together we’ll prove that a zip code doesn’t decide a child’s destiny. ¡Juntos podemos!”
In Chicago, the new initiative builds on a legacy of Manchester City community work with Haas Park Advisory Council and Chicago Parks Foundation, dating back to 2012.
The programme will work with local schools to provide free football programming for young people across the Chicago area.
Brad Carlson, Haas Park Advisory Council, said: “We are very excited to begin our MCFC Free Soccer Program at Goethe Public School in the Haas Park community of Logan Square, Chicago. Our three Young Leaders, Gael, Logan and Matt, couldn’t be more thrilled to get started and are really looking forward to working with the great kids in our community.
“We are very confident that our Young Leaders’ work with children in the community will continue to have a positive impact on young people and families across the neighbourhood, using football as a platform for success.
“We thank Manchester City Football Club again for this great programme, opportunity and partnership.”
In Los Angeles, Manchester City will work with Football For Her, which provides safe and inclusive opportunities for girls to play football, stay active and build confidence on and off the pitch.
Together, the organisations will use football to create opportunities for girls to develop their confidence and realise their potential.
Shawna Gordon, Founder and Executive Director of Football For Her, said: “We’re so grateful for Manchester City’s commitment to our Football For Her community.
“From supporting our programs on and off the pitch to investing in our young leaders, they’ve been a thoughtful partner in collaborating on ways to expand opportunities and help our youth play, grow, and lead.”
Alongside existing initiatives in New York and Atlanta, the new projects form a growing network of Manchester City community football programmes across the US, all committed to empowering healthier lives through football.
