Following up on the Homeless World Cup

In putting together today's column (linked here) on the Homeless World Cup, with a blog item (linked here) to various links to important related sites, we made a connection with Paul Freese, the director of litigation and advocacy for Public Counsel pro-bono legal council. He could not say enough about the impact of "Kicking It" can have on those who see homelessness in a new light.

"I think that the message 'Kicking It' sends to other homeless listing in the thoes of despondency is one of hope and pride. Hope, in seeing that the human spirit can triumph over the most life-shattering circumstances; pride, in witnessing those who share your destitution and powerlessness as a class represent with such grit, resilience and triumphant spirit.

"I especially loved that 'Kicking It' included an elderly character from Spain whom many homeless will relate to even if they can no longer play in an athletic event. He was haunted by a profound sense of self-doubt and worthlessness - feelings reinforced though all his experiences on the streets and jails - until he came upon this opportunity. Yet he summoned the will and spirit to overcome those depressing forces to become the heart and soul of his team."

More information on the Homeless Prevention Project provided by the L.A.-based Public Counsel Law Center (linked here).

==Freese came as a contact after talking to director Susan Koch, a Washington D.C.-based filmmaker who says she'd never done anything sports-related before "Kicking It."
She found out about it from reading a blog item on the World Economic Forum that happened to mention the Homeless World Cup.
"I'm always looking for make documentaries about social issues in an entertaining way," she said. "I love the fact that it will now be on ESPN, with 90 million viewers who get exposed to something that they might not otherwise think about. That's a perfect home for it."

==A link to an interview that Voice of America did with Lawrence Cann, who organizes the U.S. Homeless Cup and directs the team that will go to the Homeless World Cup (linked here).

==The U.S. Homeless World Cup team (linked here) which, aside from Diaz and Figueroa from L.A., includes players from Santa Rosa, Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C. and Austin, Tex.