New York City Soccer Initiative opened ten new mini-pitches on October 10. Members of the community, partners, and NYCFC players got together to commemorate the occasion at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The centerpiece of the event showcased photographs from several entrants of the NYCSI's photography contest.
Including photos taken by Kweku Brew, the winner of the contest.
When Brew left his home he thought he was just going to celebrate the new pitches, but when he arrived and saw his work on display he was speechless.
His day was made, but little did he know that Alex Ring was going to be calling him up to the stage to be apart of the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
âWhen Alex Ring mentioned my name, I was shocked. I was like âoh thatâs me, heâs calling my name.â So I just ran up and shook his hand, and in my head, I was thinking âIâm shaking the captainâs hand,ââ Brew said. âIt was amazing. One of the best moments of my life.â
Growing up in Ghana and moving to the Bronx, he has always seen the untapped potential in his community. So when this opportunity to enter the photography contest came up, he jumped at it to tell peopleâs stories and give them a voice.
âI donât have my own professional camera or anything, but when I go on Instagram or I see people who take pictures Iâm always infatuated by their work,â he said. âThereâs a story behind every photo like they say a picture says a thousand words, so Iâve always been interested in photography.â
Of the ten blue pitches that opened on Thursday, the one in Peopleâs Park is just a little more special to Brew.
âItâs right by my high school,â he said.
âI didnât grow up where I had goals, a blue pitch, or even an organized pitch where you could just bring a soccer ball and play.
âBefore the blue pitches, me and my friends had to use cans or our book bags to make goals just so we could be able to play. So having the blue pitches, itâs setting the steps and stones for everyone to be able to just bring a soccer ball and play.â
The focal point of Brewâs submission was his community and his love of soccer.
âIt doesnât matter your race, the language you speak, or your background, soccer brings people together, no matter what. Itâs very inclusiveâ Brew said.
âI feel like the Soccer Initiative is a game-changer because it gives people a place to go to after school instead of hanging around and doing something that will get them in trouble.
âThe Soccer Initiative is a comfort and a safe zone, just coming there to play soccer.
âWhatever you have going on, just bring a ball and play soccer with your friends or strangers to meet new people and make connections through that one language we all speak. The language of soccer.
âIâm excited for all the pitches being opened for new generations and every generation. Iâm glad to just be apart of it.â
As a part of his prize, Brew will have the opportunity to shadow NYCFCâs photographers during the first playoff game.
âIâm excited but Iâm going to be nervous because thatâs a playoff game, but Iâm ready to learn and just get to work,â he said.
âI was born in Ghana and I came here when I was 11, so Iâve been here for seven years. In all my seven years of being here, I never expected this to happen.
âI want to be a photographer for the community and I want to be able to give people a voice to tell their story.
âIâm passionate about photography, but Iâm more infatuated by the people and explaining their story through the pictures.
âI still need to do more research and own my own camera to pursue photography, so that's my next step moving forward."
