June 23, 2024 • 8 mins
LIVE from The Travelers Championship: Hartford Lions Soccer Academy Inc.
The team stopped by to share exciting updates about their soccer academy.
The team stopped by to share exciting updates about their soccer academy.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
It's the Travelers Championship Birdi's for Charity. Here in the fan zone, we
are right next to Mini Golf.We are representing bertie for Charity. Through
end of play today. Are charitieswho are part of this get fifteen percent
of every dollar donated thanks to WebsterBank. Now. You can go to
Travelers Championship dot com and you canclick on Berti's for Charity and see the
array of amazing organizations. Or youcan go directly to the organizations themselves because
(00:23):
they'll have a link on their sitesdirecting you to Birdie's for Charity where they
can earn that fifty fifteen percent onevery dollar thanks to Webster Bank. Now.
One of the charities that's gonna benefitis Hartford Lions Soccer Academy, Inc.
And I'm here with a whole slewof people, a whole group.
Please welcome Kanil Martin, Aisha Smith, Nevado Harper and Kadian Morris. Hello
(00:43):
everybody. Oh, it's nice tohave this group here. So first and
foremost, Knille, let's go toyou. Tell us about the Hartford Lions.
Who you are? I mean,obviously soccer is involved. You know
you're at a golf tournament though,but you know it's soccer. But tell
us who you are and how youhelp. So. Hartford Lions Soccer Academy
is a nonprofit youth organization that usedthe sport of soccer to connect with kids,
(01:08):
and not just the kids, butthe families as well. And how
can people find you online? Absolutelyso we can. You can find us
at HLSA soccer dot org. Again, that's HLSA soccer dot org Vision Discipline
Community. It's like I read thatoff your T shirt. That's it,
and your title there is I'm thefounder and executive director. Pretty important guy
(01:30):
to the organization. Why did youstart it? We just we needed to
have a proper soccer organization and inthe city of Hartford, and we wanted
to do more than soccer. Wewanted to add enrichment piece to it.
Get the families involved because, asyou know, the families are the foundation
of what we do, so it'svery important for for us to get them
(01:51):
involved. All right, let's goto Ayisha, who is seeding seated.
Wow, it's warm here at theTravelers Championship. Everybody, She's right next
to you. Hello, aih Hi? How are you tell me your role
at the foundation. I am thedirector of operations and policies. So how
do kids and families find out aboutyou? Do they have to be on
a waiting list? Do they haveto get referred? Not? Really.
(02:13):
We have open registration all year around. We do operate all year round and
a lot of it spreads to wordof mouth, but also via social media.
We have a strong social media presence. And so is that different than
your website? How that you canfind you on Facebook, Instagram? How
do we look for that? Instagram? Facebook, Twitter and TikTok? I'm
(02:34):
using Hertford Lions Soccer Hartford as LionsSoccer as our handle. Correct, wonderful
And I want to go down toour friend now and I hope I'm saying
your name right? Is it KidianKatian or kit Katian Katie? And oh
so Katie? And how important arethese extra funds from this event to you
guys? Very important, very importantin such a way where in it it
really helps us to do what thevision is to help the community get who
(03:00):
are sometimes we've afforded and this helpsa big deal. So yeah, and
what's your role with the with thegroup. I'm the website administrator. Oh
so I should ask you where togo online? Huh. Remind our audience
once again how to find you.You can find us at Google, us
at HLA Soccer dot org, justthe same Facebook, Instagram hyping up that
(03:23):
name. All right, sitting rightnext to you is Nevado Harper Hig Nevado.
How are you today? I'm doinggood? Are you doing good?
Tell me about your role with theorganization. So I'm the coach, I'm
one of oh the major coaches thereand everybody knowing me as coach Pops.
Coach Pops. All right, wellyour coach Pops now on this. So
tell me how important is this tothe youth that you serve and can you
(03:45):
see it actually making a difference onthe spot. Oh yeah, it's very
very important. These kids that weare coaching every single day. It means
so much of them every time theycome up to us. It builds relationship
within their family, keys them offthe roads us. Very good for the
kids and for the community. Soyou know, a lot of the organizations
that we work within for the pasttwenty years on iHeart Communities, we talk
(04:08):
about that relationship of kids and ouryouth and our at most risk and the
cities that we serve, whether itbe through Hartford Bridge for Waterbury, all
the towns that we serve, andright now we're seeing such an increase of
need, whether it be food andsecurity or children living below the poverty level
and homelessness, and also trying toblast the stereotype of what that all means
because most of the families that needhelp now are working. Most of the
(04:30):
families that need help right now arenot what people like to play the stereotype
of their actual families, whether itbe a single parent household or guardian household.
They're actually working. They're just tryingto find ways to make ends meet.
And for the youth that we interview, I find it who talk to
me anyway, if they had somethingto do, they would follow it because
(04:50):
they like structure and believe it ornot. I know, kids, this
is going to be like shocking becauseI was one of the ones that said,
don't tell me what to do,but actually kids like to be told,
oh, yeah, what to do, coach, tell me about that.
Yeah. So when we have thekids and we are instructing them what
to do, as long as it'sit's fun, it's us. There's a
(05:11):
thing that we don't that. There'sa thing that I do. I always
give the kids push ups. Ilike, strong kids, Why don't you
have a strong body, You're goingto have a strong mind. And that's
where I coach from. And Iknow she wanted to say something as well,
go ahead, Oh did I justsay your name or no? Yeah?
Yeah. I was like, waita minute. I was like,
I know you were. You werewanting to comment about the kids in the
(05:31):
community and the need for them tohave something to do. Yes, Like
a lot of our children come fromvarious backgrounds, but they all have the
same need. They are very talented, very very talented, all in their
own way, but the opportunities thatthey receive, that's the part that they
(05:55):
struggle a bit. And that's thedifference with Harford Line Soccer Academy because we're
not just soccer organization. We focuson the child as a whole, which
involves their family and the community,and we connect all the pieces to ensure
that they have everything that is needed. So it's much more than a coach.
It's much more than a soccer ball. Sometimes they even need cleats.
They need assistance with attending the games, they need assistance with things that just
(06:24):
simply doesn't involve soccer. So ifyou could right now, you know,
talk about a specific need because obviouslywhen the championship ends today and the Birdie
Bucks, you know you're going toget that, which is incredible, But
what maybe you could throw out anactual need right now, maybe maybe for
someone listening, like you know,supplying the cleats for all the kids,
or the soccer balls even and there'sa great organization I want to connect you
(06:45):
with the to provide soccer balls tokids. But but but specific need and
a monetary amount on it that peoplecould be aware of. A monetary amount
I would say is probably ten thousanddollars. That was our goal for the
Birdies for charity. I believe areclose, but we're not quite there as
yet. Okay, that was ourour goal for our fall season, and
(07:06):
that would help to kind of fillthe gaps with what we noticed some of
our families struggled with during our springseason. So that's a whole season,
ten thousand, all the kids,everything covering it all right, it would
help well, it would help,all right. And then as far as
if somebody or business listening that says, you know that that has shoes like
oh wow, I would like toget cleats or I would like to do
(07:28):
T shirts or I would like todo whatever the case is, like,
can they do you need help withthat? Yes? Yes, that would
that would help lot. All right, And the website once again HLSA soccer
dot org, HLSA soccer dot orgto make a difference to to see you
play. Actually, can can thepublic come and enjoy your games too?
Yes, of course we're we're andthen you get your your your schedule and
(07:49):
everything online. Right, everything isonline. Our home field is on Edward
Street in Hartford, Connecticut. Okay, it's right by the Global Communications Academy.
All right, well, thank you, thank you so much for being
here today, of cours, thanksfor having us, and thank canil is
videotaping the rest of us right here. Bring it in, bring in,
let's all pose and pretend like wedon't know. Oh no, he's coming
on this side now, I neverremind Yeah, absolutely, coach pops,
(08:13):
go yo. I have a podcastright okay on YouTube. I would love
for I love for a lot ofpeople to go and subscribe. It's on
YouTube. It's called I Have aDream podcast right on YouTube interview local people
that have dreams and we want tomake them a reality. I absolutely love
it and I hope people will supportyou this organization, and thank you all
(08:35):
so much for being here on iHeartCommunities. Thanks guys, thank you
It's the Travelers Championship Birdi's for Charity. Here in the fan zone, we
are right next to Mini Golf.We are representing bertie for Charity. Through
end of play today. Are charitieswho are part of this get fifteen percent
of every dollar donated thanks to WebsterBank. Now. You can go to
Travelers Championship dot com and you canclick on Berti's for Charity and see the
array of amazing organizations. Or youcan go directly to the organizations themselves because
(00:23):
they'll have a link on their sitesdirecting you to Birdie's for Charity where they
can earn that fifty fifteen percent onevery dollar thanks to Webster Bank. Now.
One of the charities that's gonna benefitis Hartford Lions Soccer Academy, Inc.
And I'm here with a whole slewof people, a whole group.
Please welcome Kanil Martin, Aisha Smith, Nevado Harper and Kadian Morris. Hello
(00:43):
everybody. Oh, it's nice tohave this group here. So first and
foremost, Knille, let's go toyou. Tell us about the Hartford Lions.
Who you are? I mean,obviously soccer is involved. You know
you're at a golf tournament though,but you know it's soccer. But tell
us who you are and how youhelp. So. Hartford Lions Soccer Academy
is a nonprofit youth organization that usedthe sport of soccer to connect with kids,
(01:08):
and not just the kids, butthe families as well. And how
can people find you online? Absolutelyso we can. You can find us
at HLSA soccer dot org. Again, that's HLSA soccer dot org Vision Discipline
Community. It's like I read thatoff your T shirt. That's it,
and your title there is I'm thefounder and executive director. Pretty important guy
(01:30):
to the organization. Why did youstart it? We just we needed to
have a proper soccer organization and inthe city of Hartford, and we wanted
to do more than soccer. Wewanted to add enrichment piece to it.
Get the families involved because, asyou know, the families are the foundation
of what we do, so it'svery important for for us to get them
(01:51):
involved. All right, let's goto Ayisha, who is seeding seated.
Wow, it's warm here at theTravelers Championship. Everybody, She's right next
to you. Hello, aih Hi? How are you tell me your role
at the foundation. I am thedirector of operations and policies. So how
do kids and families find out aboutyou? Do they have to be on
a waiting list? Do they haveto get referred? Not? Really.
(02:13):
We have open registration all year around. We do operate all year round and
a lot of it spreads to wordof mouth, but also via social media.
We have a strong social media presence. And so is that different than
your website? How that you canfind you on Facebook, Instagram? How
do we look for that? Instagram? Facebook, Twitter and TikTok? I'm
(02:34):
using Hertford Lions Soccer Hartford as LionsSoccer as our handle. Correct, wonderful
And I want to go down toour friend now and I hope I'm saying
your name right? Is it KidianKatian or kit Katian Katie? And oh
so Katie? And how important arethese extra funds from this event to you
guys? Very important, very importantin such a way where in it it
really helps us to do what thevision is to help the community get who
(03:00):
are sometimes we've afforded and this helpsa big deal. So yeah, and
what's your role with the with thegroup. I'm the website administrator. Oh
so I should ask you where togo online? Huh. Remind our audience
once again how to find you.You can find us at Google, us
at HLA Soccer dot org, justthe same Facebook, Instagram hyping up that
(03:23):
name. All right, sitting rightnext to you is Nevado Harper Hig Nevado.
How are you today? I'm doinggood? Are you doing good?
Tell me about your role with theorganization. So I'm the coach, I'm
one of oh the major coaches thereand everybody knowing me as coach Pops.
Coach Pops. All right, wellyour coach Pops now on this. So
tell me how important is this tothe youth that you serve and can you
(03:45):
see it actually making a difference onthe spot. Oh yeah, it's very
very important. These kids that weare coaching every single day. It means
so much of them every time theycome up to us. It builds relationship
within their family, keys them offthe roads us. Very good for the
kids and for the community. Soyou know, a lot of the organizations
that we work within for the pasttwenty years on iHeart Communities, we talk
(04:08):
about that relationship of kids and ouryouth and our at most risk and the
cities that we serve, whether itbe through Hartford Bridge for Waterbury, all
the towns that we serve, andright now we're seeing such an increase of
need, whether it be food andsecurity or children living below the poverty level
and homelessness, and also trying toblast the stereotype of what that all means
because most of the families that needhelp now are working. Most of the
(04:30):
families that need help right now arenot what people like to play the stereotype
of their actual families, whether itbe a single parent household or guardian household.
They're actually working. They're just tryingto find ways to make ends meet.
And for the youth that we interview, I find it who talk to
me anyway, if they had somethingto do, they would follow it because
(04:50):
they like structure and believe it ornot. I know, kids, this
is going to be like shocking becauseI was one of the ones that said,
don't tell me what to do,but actually kids like to be told,
oh, yeah, what to do, coach, tell me about that.
Yeah. So when we have thekids and we are instructing them what
to do, as long as it'sit's fun, it's us. There's a
(05:11):
thing that we don't that. There'sa thing that I do. I always
give the kids push ups. Ilike, strong kids, Why don't you
have a strong body, You're goingto have a strong mind. And that's
where I coach from. And Iknow she wanted to say something as well,
go ahead, Oh did I justsay your name or no? Yeah?
Yeah. I was like, waita minute. I was like,
I know you were. You werewanting to comment about the kids in the
(05:31):
community and the need for them tohave something to do. Yes, Like
a lot of our children come fromvarious backgrounds, but they all have the
same need. They are very talented, very very talented, all in their
own way, but the opportunities thatthey receive, that's the part that they
(05:55):
struggle a bit. And that's thedifference with Harford Line Soccer Academy because we're
not just soccer organization. We focuson the child as a whole, which
involves their family and the community,and we connect all the pieces to ensure
that they have everything that is needed. So it's much more than a coach.
It's much more than a soccer ball. Sometimes they even need cleats.
They need assistance with attending the games, they need assistance with things that just
(06:24):
simply doesn't involve soccer. So ifyou could right now, you know,
talk about a specific need because obviouslywhen the championship ends today and the Birdie
Bucks, you know you're going toget that, which is incredible, But
what maybe you could throw out anactual need right now, maybe maybe for
someone listening, like you know,supplying the cleats for all the kids,
or the soccer balls even and there'sa great organization I want to connect you
(06:45):
with the to provide soccer balls tokids. But but but specific need and
a monetary amount on it that peoplecould be aware of. A monetary amount
I would say is probably ten thousanddollars. That was our goal for the
Birdies for charity. I believe areclose, but we're not quite there as
yet. Okay, that was ourour goal for our fall season, and
(07:06):
that would help to kind of fillthe gaps with what we noticed some of
our families struggled with during our springseason. So that's a whole season,
ten thousand, all the kids,everything covering it all right, it would
help well, it would help,all right. And then as far as
if somebody or business listening that says, you know that that has shoes like
oh wow, I would like toget cleats or I would like to do
(07:28):
T shirts or I would like todo whatever the case is, like,
can they do you need help withthat? Yes? Yes, that would
that would help lot. All right, And the website once again HLSA soccer
dot org, HLSA soccer dot orgto make a difference to to see you
play. Actually, can can thepublic come and enjoy your games too?
Yes, of course we're we're andthen you get your your your schedule and
(07:49):
everything online. Right, everything isonline. Our home field is on Edward
Street in Hartford, Connecticut. Okay, it's right by the Global Communications Academy.
All right, well, thank you, thank you so much for being
here today, of cours, thanksfor having us, and thank canil is
videotaping the rest of us right here. Bring it in, bring in,
let's all pose and pretend like wedon't know. Oh no, he's coming
on this side now, I neverremind Yeah, absolutely, coach pops,
(08:13):
go yo. I have a podcastright okay on YouTube. I would love
for I love for a lot ofpeople to go and subscribe. It's on
YouTube. It's called I Have aDream podcast right on YouTube interview local people
that have dreams and we want tomake them a reality. I absolutely love
it and I hope people will supportyou this organization, and thank you all
(08:35):
so much for being here on iHeartCommunities. Thanks guys, thank you
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