Empowering Youth, Building Leaders, Strengthening Communities

Our Mission

To empower youth through sport, resilience, community partnership, and resource access by providing accessible, organized programs.

With a focus on the East African community in Minnesota, Minnesota Youth Outreach Organization dedicates focus through athletics and wraparound support services to ensure every young person can participate regardless of circumstances. Together with our community partners, we equip youth with the character, leadership, and life skills they need to thrive on and off the field.

Our Vision

To build a community organization where youth, families, and neighbors collaborate to overcome challenges and build a better future. A future that equips young minds with the mental, emotional, and physical tools to succeed in life and become compassionate, resilient community members and leaders.

Meet our Executive Director

MYOO’s CORE PILLARS

  • Sports

    At MYOO, sports are more than just games; they are a powerful tool for promoting healthy lifestyles, building character, confidence and creating opportunities for growth. We began with soccer and expanded to basketball with hopes to include more variety in the near future designed to help youth develop physical skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. By creating a positive and enjoyable sports experience, we not only cultivate athletic talent but also provide a alternative to risky behaviors such as substance abuse and violence, giving young people a constructive outlet for energy and stress.

  • Resilience

    We believe that sports teach life lessons that extend far beyond the field. Through organized athletics, youth develop self discipline, determinations, and focus. These qualities prepare them to face challengers with confidence. Our programs are designed to foster sportsmanship, mutual respect, and healthy competition, building the inner strength young people need to overcome obstacles in all areas of life.

  • Community Partnership

    MYOO is deeply committed to fostering a sense of belonging for every young person we serve. Through community partnership, we work together to bridge minority communities together, as well as, with the greater Twin-City economy. By addressing cultural and/or religious barriers, we work with families to ensure they feel safe and understood. Our programs create a supportive environment where youth can build positive relationships with peers and mentors, feel seen and valued, and become part of something larger than themselves.

  • Resource Access

    We understand that success requires more than athletic achievement, it requires a well rounded support system that meets youth where they are. That is why we aim to offer practical resources to remove such barriers. These wraparound services ensure that every young person, regardless of socioeconomic status or personal challenges, has the resources they need to thrive in all areas of life.

Our History

The Minnesota Youth Outreach Organization was established in 2024 by a few members of Oromo United Soccer Team, who have been a Minnesota-based collective and contributing member of the OSFNA Tournament since 2005. Through the struggles and challenges of creating a sustainable life for an underprivileged community, this soccer team stuck together and supported one another. The youth of this team, no longer youths, realized the lack of stability and locally focused opportunities that served to help community members in their individual journey to becoming successful and secure. For that reason, MYOO was established.

MYOO is committed and laying the groundwork into creating a lasting and positive change by empowering the youth of the community, supporting their families, and fostering unity together with the greater Minnesota public. Through the launch of programs that bring the community together, MYOO aims to use their experience in the athletic arena to provide athlete support, opportunity, and accessibility to resources to help underrepresented youth. In doing so, we intend to open the doors to educational and career support, health and mental health resources, family services, networking and local-business growth opportunities, all while building up the youth to be empowered active members that will help shape a better tomorrow for Minnesota’s local youth and families.