our mission
timber and thorns begin with roots
futsal for the people, not the privileged: organizing free street soccer for everyone. portland has the fields, we’ve got the players, now let’s just put them together. roots futsal is all about promoting play by organizing pick-up games, tournaments, and competitive teams
Our Vision
We started small in the Summer of 2021, organizing pick-up games for kids and adults during the pandemic. In 2022 we expanded a bit, but this summer we are going big. Our vision is to see impassioned pickup games, multiple times a week, for all ages, at five different locations in the Portland metro area. Transitioning into the Fall, we would like to see futsal embedded into after-school programs throughout the area.
The Organization
Roots Futsal is a project organized by Cada Casa, an Oregon-based 501(c)(3) non-profit. Through generous donations, we are able to fund supervised futsal games for two age groups, twice a week, for all ten weeks of summer, at two locations. By April, we hope to secure funding to extend this to two more locations and begin to organize our after-school programs for the Fall. If you are interested in joining our team, contributing to our cause, or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Cada Casa advances equity by providing accessible intercultural education, athletic programs, skill-building, and civic engagement opportunities for students; with a focus on BIPOC, Latino/x, and other disadvantaged communities. Cada Casa develops impassioned programming and facilitates cultural enrichment for schools and clubs throughout the Portland metro including
Multicultural Soccer Program, (>100 students, 95% Latino)
Coffee Lab 227 (where students earn HS Chemistry credit through the science of brewing and roasting);
Bigger Than Hip-Hop (dance, fashion, street art, beats, DJ-ing, & rapping workshops in the public high schools),
Screen Printing & Apparel Design, Design + Build, Spoken Poetry is Transformational, DJ101, and many more
Timeline
Spring: free kick-off Roots Royalty tournament at Kings Court (NE PDX)
May: weekly free pickup games at each location (Beaverton, Gresham, NE Portland) for each age group
Summer: expand to two other locations (TBD) and have at least three pick-up games per week for each age group at each location. (5 locations x 5 age groups x 3 times per week x 10 weeks of summer = 750 free games in the Portland-metro area)
Integrate Roots Futsal into at least three SUN and after-school programs
Target locations
Northeast Portland, Gresham, and Hillsboro have a painful history of racism, oppression, and struggle, along with rich traditions that are Rooted in the vibrant Black and Latino Communities. Yet disparities remain. Research by Portland Metro indicates BIPOC and Latino/x populations in the region have a poverty rate that is nearly three times higher than white communities.
Youth athletics, particularly soccer, have become a pay-to-play boutique sport for the privileged but are often inaccessible for many students of color due to the high costs. Well-intentioned investments in these neighborhoods have included the development of needed recreational facilities, but lack the community engagement, and follow-through to create a system in which these facilities are utilized.
Soccer (or futsal) pickup games that occupy streets throughout the world and bring joy to millions of children and adults alike are almost non-existent in our city. "The beautiful game" is the sport loved and embraced by immigrant, refugee, and brown communities that live in Portland. Many youths from communities of color are unable to play because of the barriers created by a lack of finances and transportation.
Why futsal?
Futsal is important for a soccer player because it helps to develop and improve technical skills, such as dribbling, passing, and ball control, in a small-sided and fast-paced game environment. Additionally, playing futsal can increase a player's spatial awareness, decision-making, and creativity on the field, as well as improve their physical fitness, as the game requires quick bursts of energy and agility. Overall, futsal can enhance a soccer player's overall performance and prepare them for the demands of the 11-a-side game. Or, futsal is just the more fun version of soccer. More touches, more goals, more fun.
support
support
Your support will help establish a free ‘Roots’ Futsal program in underserved neighborhoods of color to inspire healthy activities. The project will: 1) Build authentic relationships, collaborate with local neighborhood leaders, hire & train staff; 2) Offer free “Roots Royalty” futsal tournaments in the spring at King’s Court in NE Portland, Cedar Mill Courts in Beaverton, and Snake’s Court in Gresham; 3) Provide free clinics, nutrition, and pickup games during recess at the corresponding Elementary and Middle Schools.
connect
the best way to stay in the know is to sign up for our age/location-specific game announcements:
QUOTES