PORTLAND SOCCER PROJECT
The Portland Soccer Project is an afterschool program that uses soccer to develop social, emotional, and leadership skills in kids.
Inspired by the programming championed in Lewiston by the Rosati Leadership Academy, the Portland Soccer Project was piloted in East End Community School in the spring of 2025 and has been renewed for the following school year.
Watch the full Hearts of Maine mini-doc above, recapping the very first session of the program. Forty students took part, guided by seven volunteer coaches who collectively dedicated more than 2,200 hours to the kids. Each session focused on building teamwork, resilience, accountability, and joyful play.