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Building bridges through coffee and soccer • Minnesota Reformer [1]

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Date: 2025-12-15  

Over the past few months, we’ve watched with growing concern as divisive and dangerous rhetoric about immigrants — particularly Somali Minnesotans — has gained traction in headlines and on social media. These narratives paint entire communities with a broad, negative brush, ignoring the real stories of resilience, contribution and connection happening every day in our neighborhoods.

We’re writing today not as politicians or pundits, but as founders of a community-driven effort, Futsal Society and Fawkes Alley Coffee, where people can come together, find common ground and build opportunity. Blending in doesn’t mean giving up who you are — it means finding what we all share.

Futsal Society started in 2016 as a handful of friends playing pickup soccer at Whittier Rec Center in south Minneapolis. It wasn’t long before kids began showing up — kids who love the game but didn’t have access to organized sports. Many were first-generation immigrants, including Somali youth, who faced barriers like cost, transportation and lack of safe spaces to play.

One of those kids was Bishar Mohamed. Bishar’s passion for soccer was undeniable, and his positive energy was infectious to everyone he encountered. We had stumbled across a need in the community, and Bishar worked with us to spread the word, organize his peers and design free programs. Before long, we had packed gyms with lines out the door.

What began as grassroots pickup games has grown into a citywide movement offering clinics, leagues and tournaments for hundreds of Twin Cities youth every year. Today, our program has served nearly 1,300 young people from 48 different countries and 68 high schools. More than half of players are first-generation immigrants. These aren’t just numbers; they represent stories of kids who’ve come out of their shells, learned leadership and found belonging.

Futsal — a fast-paced, small-sided version of soccer — is perfect for urban neighborhoods. It requires minimal space and equipment, making it accessible to all. Beyond the logistical advantages, futsal builds creativity, teamwork and confidence. It’s a sport that teaches kids how to trust themselves and others — skills that matter on and off the court.

As Futsal Society grew, we saw another need: sustainable funding and workforce opportunities for the very youth we serve. That’s where Fawkes Alley Coffee comes in.

Located in Loring Park, Fawkes Alley is more than a café — it’s a nonprofit hub where every cup fuels opportunity. We employ former Futsal Society players, providing jobs, mentorship and career support. All profits are reinvested into youth programs and futsal court development. It’s a model that connects enterprise with equity, proving that business can — and should — serve the community.

Through this work, we’ve witnessed incredible transformations. Kids who were shy and isolated now lead teams, coach younger players, and work behind the counter at Fawkes Alley. We’ve seen kids from different countries, who speak entirely different languages, laughing together after a hard-fought match. We’ve seen parents from different cultures cheering side by side, and volunteer coaches driving van loads of young people to participate, sometimes from as far as St. Cloud.

These moments remind us that assimilation isn’t about erasing identity — it’s about finding common ground and purpose. Soccer and coffee might seem simple, but they’re powerful tools for connection.

Here’s the truth: If you only read headlines or scroll through takes on X, you’ll miss what’s really happening in our communities.

You’ll miss the joy on a kid’s face when they score their first goal. You’ll miss the pride of a teenager earning their first paycheck at a local café or when they receive their first acceptance letter to college. You’ll miss the quiet, everyday acts of unity that make the Twin Cities stronger.

The opposite of division is connection. We invite you — we challenge you — to stop the doom-scrolling and engage with the people and communities that have been too often misrepresented in the news and on social media. Stop by Whittier Rec Center this winter on Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. to catch some fast-paced futsal or grab a coffee served up with a smile from one of our baristas. When you do, you’ll find that we all have far more in common than the headlines suggest.

At Futsal Society and Fawkes Alley Coffee, we believe in a Twin Cities where every child can play, belong and fulfill their potential. Together, we can push back against fear and division by building something better: community.

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[1] Url: https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/15/building-bridges-through-coffee-and-soccer/

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