The loss that mobilized a movement

Our original purpose behind our founding and current work is to save and improve lives through soccer.  That was the purpose behind our founding following the violent death of student Eric Dixon in 2009 at the hands of fellow student Hector Soto and it has remained the motivation for everything we’ve done since. We started as an organization for Kensington teenagers in 2010 and have expanded to serve many younger children and a broader community, but we’ve maintained a strong focus on teens and have since formed adult programs to serve our players as they got older. Those original teens are now grown and form the core of our adult violence prevention and intervention programs both as staff and as participants.

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Mission

Our mission is to help each of our teens and young adults to gain the conflict de-escalation skills, self-awareness, hope, and empathy to not want to harm others. It also means helping them find jobs, mental health services, education, food, and housing so they are better able to stay on that path. We accomplish all of the above by harnessing the powerful potential of sports, relationships, real world grounded mentorship, and positive peer support.

“Our goal is to reach, engage, and build relationships with teens and young adults most at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence and then guide them towards a positive path. We challenge them to make better choices and we train and support them so they have the tools to stay on that path.
”
— Jim Hardy
 
 

News and Stories on Gun Violence Prevention By Subject

 

Teen & Young Adult Perspectives and Stories

 

Mixtile Productions: Sounds of Silence (Watch)

A Chat With Keeshine Foy (Watch)

LaSalle TV Feature: Future Leaders in Philadelphia: KSC (Watch)

Up2Us Sports Feature: Philly Youth Speak Out (Watch)

 

Our youth are very attuned to the impacts of inequality in shaping their daily challenges. Over the year, our partner organizations and other local media agencies have highlighted some of our pensive youth. Overall these videos highlight the work we do year-round to encourage our youth to see themselves as actors and leaders in local change.

 

Youth Speaking Out Against Violence

 
Features on Youth Activism

  • Anthony Acevedo Speaks Out at Kensington Community Reslience Fund (Read More)

  • KSC’s Vision for Peace by Lexus Roman (Watch)

  • NBC10 Philadelphia: Seeking Peace in Philly (Read More)

  • Telemundo: Fun and Play in the Space of an Avalanche of Drugs in Kensington (Read More)

  • KSC Teen Leaders Attend Leadership Summit

  • Teen WorkReady Conflict Resolution Series

  • Youth Leadership Council Kicks Off

To learn more about Teen Leadership & Workforce Training, email Carlos@KensingtonSoccer.Org.

 

Friday Night Lights

 
 

KSC Prep

 
 
 

Recent Features on Gun & Violence Prevention Initiative Partnerships:

 
 

Philly Truce Festival

  • KSC Coaches and Mentors Running Soccer Activities (View)

  • News Coverage of Philly Truce Day Festival and Soccer (View)

24th Police District

  • Philadelphia Inquirer: KSC Activities at District-Sponsored Block Party (Read More)

To learn more about information about partnerships, email Barbyose@KensingtonSoccer.Org.

 
 

Staff

Our key staff for this initiative all came through our programs and are from the community they’re serving. Intervention and Prevention Coordinator: Brianna Banks; Director of Teen and Adult Programs: Jakeema Burton; Director of Teen Coach Internships, Carlos Acosta. Meet the people who make our Gun Violence Prevention Initiative impactful, and community driven.