Mission Statement
“The LSC Newcomer soccer team provides a gateway from war to peace for refugee and immigrant youth. The Newcomers hail from many nations and speak multiple languages. Soccer, however, is their common language. LSC Newcomers study together, play together, and together they dream of a world and life far from the genocide, persecution and horror they have endured. This soccer team bridges children and challenges them to seize opportunity and celebrate their assets.”
About The Newcomers
Jhon, Mohamed, and Heh Say rest at half time
Twenty-three years after his own arrival to our city, in 2001 LSC’s founder and president dreamed of bringing the game of soccer to the most underrepresented children in our community so they could find a place to belong, have fun, and develop skills that would serve them on and off the soccer field.
Unknown to each other at the time, a year later the Refugee Development Center was created to provide educational and cultural pathways for families to become self-sufficient and thus escape the war-torn countries and oppression they had known before coming to the US.
From there, fast forward ten years and add one more dream to the mix. The dream a handful boys had to play soccer for a team. A real team with uniforms, games, shiny new soccer balls, and a tapestry of coaches and adults in full support of their endeavor!
The Newcomers allows the kids to have fun while learning and building important life skills like teamwork, perseverance, and giving back.
Three dreams converged in 2012 and from there the LSC Newcomers were made. Though the story could have ended there, this was just the beginning of a tale that would bring surprises, opportunity, and life-lessons only a venture with this history, this mix of children, and this team of dedicated adults could deliver.
LSC Newcomer Program
- Academic Enrichment
- Cultural Adjustment Support
- Soccer Training
The formation of this team was inspired by the Fugees and exists because of the generous support of local donors, community partners, and an interdisciplinary team of staff offering specialized support, instruction, and training. We thank the Greater Lansing Community!
Newcomers Lansing State Journal Article
Newcomers Lansing State Journal Video
Countries represented by the Newcomers: (Top Row) Central African Republic, Colombia, Somalia, Bhutan (Middle Row) Iraq, United States of America, Burma (Bottom Row) Thailand, Nepal, Rwanda, Burundi.