(WGME) "Event looks to bring people new to Maine together through sports"

by (WGME)

Sunday, October 2nd, 2022

Click Here to View Article and Video: Event looks to bring people new to Maine together through sports | WGME

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PORTLAND (WGME) -- An event in Portland brought new people together through a sport that's popular around the world.

The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center hosted Soccer Saturday for New Mainers in partnership with United Soccer League to Portland, which hopes to bring professional men’s and women’s soccer teams to Portland.

The main goal Saturday was to make people new to the state, many from different countries, feel welcome and included.

It also gives them the chance to build connections and create a healthy lifestyle.

"By creating this opportunity again we're trying to engage the young persons in the community into leading healthy lifestyles,” said Reza Jalali, the executive director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center.

"This is something for them they see people that look like them. I don't look like them and all of a sudden they feel welcomed and included, which is an important message that we're trying to spread through soccer as well,” saidGabe Hoffman-Johnson, the founder and president of USL to Portland

A member of the immigration center says, "By partnering with USL to Portland, the Immigrant Welcome Center strives to unite our ever-growing mosaic of Portland’s communities through the common language of soccer, a sport loved by the world.”