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Soccer Without Borders (SWB) is pleased to announce that Matt Kaiser has been named Director of Soccer Without Borders Colorado. Thanks to years of experience, including multiple leadership roles at Big Brothers Big Sisters Colorado, Matt brings a sharp youth development lens, a strong perspective on building culture and programs, and meaningful experience with the foundation and government funding landscape in Colorado.
Soccer Without Borders first started programming in Greeley, Colorado in 2011, in partnership with Lutheran Family Services and the former W-League club, Colorado Force, in response to a rapid influx of refugee families to the city. After nearly a decade of serving refugee youth and families in Greeley, the hub began to expand its sphere of services to include Greater Denver, centered around a partnership with the Aurora Public Schools ACTION Zone. Today, SWB Colorado serves over 600 newcomer youth from 29 countries of origin annually through our holistic TEAM programs during the school year and summer months, as well as camps and clinics.
As Colorado’s refugee and newcomer population continues to grow, including over 2,500 Afghan arrivals since October 2021, the need for programs like SWB that are uniquely designed to support newcomer youth has also grown. SWB Colorado aims to continue working alongside school districts and community partners to address this need.
“Matt’s positive energy and commitment to youth development stood out from the start,” said Lindsey Whitford, SWB Managing Director of Programs. “SWB Colorado is continuing to grow in reach and depth, and we are thrilled to have Matt leading the hub team during this important and exciting time.”
Matt is passionate about social work, youth development, and the beautiful game of soccer (especially his beloved Borussia Dortmund). He’s a self-guided learner who, while working full-time, completed a Masters in Social Work at Colorado State University. He is looking forward to applying this learning to further cultivate safe spaces for newcomer youth across SWB.
“The opportunity I have had to work in a helping profession for almost nine years through my time with Big Brothers Big Sisters has been a life-changing experience for me,” says Matt. “The prospect of being able to serve in a similar way while also combining a personal passion of mine for the game of soccer is incredibly exciting to me.”
Join us in welcoming Matt to the SWB team. We’re glad you’re here!