Last week I took a trip to McDowell County WV...
So I went to Welch, McDowell County WV today to volunteer with a free soccer camp for kids down there... If you don't know anything about McDowell County WV... it is where @Bourdain went when he came to WV... you should watch the episode. It was phenomenal— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
McDowell County has 18k residents now... In 1950 it had 98,887... yes, in the last 68 years it has lost 80,000 residents.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
In the mid-1980's US Steel Corporation cut more than 1,200 jobs. The economic impact of U.S. Steel's departure was particularly dramatic: personal income
in the county decreased by 66% in one year. Housing values in even the most prosperous parts of the county plunged to devastatingly low values. Individuals and families who wanted to relocate outside the county were left with little or no equity in their property.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
People walked away from their mortgages and simply abandoned their homes to the lenders.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
Not much has improved since then... poverty rate is around 40% unemployment rate is through the roof... through it all McDowell County has continued to produce some of the greatest people
this world has ever known... If you ever watched the movie October Sky... Homer Hickam, a NASA engineer whose life, starting from his teenage years, was documented in the book Rocket Boys, which was later made into the film was from Coalwood in McDowell County...— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
I had a great time volunteering in McDowell County today. 3 yrs ago WVU 4-H started a soccer club that has 130 kids. This is just people who want their kids to have ... something.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
Soccer has so much power to bring people together...
It has the power to sew the seeds of hope... to give power to those who feel powerless... and to let children know they are somebody in a place where oftentimes it might not be easy to see that yes, they matter.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
It has the power to sew the seeds of hope... to give power to those who feel powerless... and to let children know they are somebody in a place where oftentimes it might not be easy to see that yes, they matter.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
I'm extremely happy I went down to do this camp this morning.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
Don't ever lose sight of the fact that sports are WAY larger than just winning and losing. They teach life lessons galore... they create community. I was yet again reminded of that today.
DO NOT EVER TELL ME A COMMUNITY DOES NOT MATTER.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
I don't want to hear it. I won't let you tell me.
EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY MATTERS.
These kids deserve to dream. This community deserves to dream.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
Quit robbing the children of these lost communities of their dreams.
These kids deserve to dream. This community deserves to dream.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
Quit robbing the children of these lost communities of their dreams.
I had a shirt on that said "I am somebody" on the front...— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
A guy came up to me and said "thank you so much for coming today... I love your shirt... we just want these kids to know they are somebody" pic.twitter.com/1Hq6vzpYVq
I know that #ProRelForUSA = HOPE.they said 300-400 people come on Tuesday nights to watch these kids games... the whole community comes and supports.— Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) June 30, 2018
Think of what it would be like if they were allowed to dream.
Every community big and small deserves the ability to dream. Every child in this country who loves the sport deserves the ability to be able to dream about their place in the sport. Continue to speak up for lost and forgotten communities in this nation and advocate for #ProRelForUSA and #ReformUSSF.
To rob all opportunity from clubs, players, coaches, fans, communities, and owners in the attempt to create parity and security for the top few teams/owners.... seems un-American.
Happy July 4th everyone!
USSF could do a lot more to hold usmnt and uswnt games in more obscure locales. WV, Duluth, Traverse City, Bozeman, Ocala, and so on. Less revenue in the short run, but *much* more in the long run.
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