Summer of Soccer and Opportunity
A community‑centered initiative has unveiled two July events that blend World Cup excitement with family‑friendly programming and workforce development.
The first event, a World Cup‑inspired Family Festival, will be held on July 12 at the Todd Bowles Waterfront Sports Complex in Elizabeth. It will offer soccer clinics run by Champions for Change, special guest appearances from Major League Soccer, and a lineup of cultural showcases, arts, crafts, wellness activities and on‑site community support.
The second event, called Sports, Business & Leadership, is scheduled for July 13 at Kean University in Union. The forum will bring together local businesses and professionals for networking and workforce‑readiness programs designed to create strategic partnerships.
Crystal Orr, president and CEO of the Urban League of Union County, said the events aim to bring the excitement of the World Cup to local communities. Curtis Myers, Jr., deputy director of the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth (HACE), added that the gatherings will celebrate the diversity of Union County and Elizabeth.
The initiative is made possible through partnerships with the City of Elizabeth, the County of Union, Welcome World, and collaborations with Choose New Jersey, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey Host Committee.
Together, the events promise to engage families, highlight cultural richness and open pathways to employment, reinforcing the region’s commitment to inclusive growth.