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This summer, Re:Source Cleveland’s Corner 65 summer sports camp hosted approximately 185 kids who had immigrated to Cleveland from 14 countries.
Children gather for a photo at Re:Source Cleveland’s Corner65 summer camp at the Urban Community School in Detroit’s Shoreway neighborhood. Photo by Michael Indriolo
Odunsi Nsengiyumba moved to Cleveland from Uganda with her family in 2017, but she didn’t know anyone in the city at the time.
“I barely spoke any English,” Nsengiyumba said. “I just went to school and went straight home every day.”
That all changed when, at age 12, Nsengiyumba began attending Corner 65, a sports camp for young refugees and immigrants in Cleveland. Now 17, he volunteers as a camp coordinator for Corner 65, which hosts camps every Tuesday through Re:Source Cleveland, and this summer has seen about 185 kids from 14 countries attend.
My first time at camp was on a Tuesday afternoon in early July. Corner 65 organizers picked up the kids and took them to Re:Source headquarters on the Urban Community School campus. As the kids, one by one, ran onto the soccer pitch to show off their skills, storm clouds began to gather. As the boys practiced their bicycle kicks in front of the goal, rain began to fall.
Camp coordinator and longtime Corner 65 participant Eileen Mucho, 18, described the kids in the program as like one big family.
“It’s not just some place to go, like a summer camp,” Mucho said. “It’s a community. To me, it’s family.”
Over the course of a few summers at the camp, I began to understand what he meant. I came to understand that it was a place for newcomers to celebrate themselves and foster community while they adjusted to life in Cleveland. (Signal Cleveland is identifying the kids in the photo below by their first names to respect their privacy.)
My colleague Najee Hall has put together the story of Corner 65 from its early days to the present. Read his article to learn about all the people who made this program possible.
A child’s reflection in a puddle on the basketball court. Credit: Michael Indriolo A child has gravel in his hand. Credit: Michael Indriolo Left: Elijah rolls around on the soccer field. Right: Jackson stretches his jersey back. Credit: Michael Indriolo Benjamin throws the ball in during a soccer game. Credit: Michael Indriolo Camp coordinator Odunsi Nsengiyumba. Credit: Michael Indriolo Daniel, Benjamin and Vincent pretend to swim in a puddle on the basketball court. Credit: Michael Indriolo Left: Camp coordinator Irene Mucho places her hand on a player during a team huddle before a soccer tournament match. Right: Odunsi Nsengiyumba discusses strategy with the team before a soccer tournament match. Credit: Michael Indriolo Players chase the ball during a soccer match. Credit: Michael Indriolo
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The setting sun casts players’ shadows on the soccer field. Credit: Michael Indriolo Emanuel. Credit: Michael Indriolo Left: A soccer goal lies twisted in the ground. Right: Sunlight filters through the trees surrounding the soccer field. Credit: Michael Indriolo Camp coordinator Irene Mucho. Credit: Michael Indriolo Camp coordinator Irene Mucho trades sliders with one of the players during a soccer tournament match. Credit: Michael Indriolo Irisil and Lilati roll across the soccer field. Credit: Michael Indriolo Teresa and Jean. Credit: Michael Indriolo Left: A volleyball, shoes and a soccer net lie on the sideline of the soccer field. Right: Camp coordinator Shalom Bonelli reaches for a basketball. Credit: Michael Indriolo Camp coordinator Shalom Bonelli. Credit: Michael IndrioloPhoto by Michael Indriolo Corner 65 founder Becky Trout Ashenfelter (left) gathers her team together before a game of touch football. Photo by Michael Indriolo Kids gather together for a photo. Photo by Michael Indriolo Kids play on the playground. Photo by Michael Indriolo Elijah and Omari wrestle on the soccer field. Photo by Michael Indriolo Estelle reaches out to Cecil after he catches a pass during a touch football game. Photo by Michael Indriolo Abdul hangs from the fence on the soccer field. Photo by Michael Indriolo Baraka tries to shield his eyes from the sun. Photo by Michael Indriolo Jackson relaxes on the soccer field between games. Photo by Michael Indriolo A child places his hand on the soccer field between games. Photo by Michael Indriolo
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K-12 Education and Youth Reporter (Male)
As a local visual journalist, I believe my mission is as much about building relationships as it is about reporting the news, and I believe my work is most impactful when I dedicate myself to my community.
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