Arlington’s 12th annual Gang Prevention Soccer Tournament takes place June 25 at Washington-Lee High School. Photo contributed
The 12th annual Gang Prevention Soccer Tournament will be held at Washington-Lee High School on June 25. The tournament is hosted by the Arlington Gang Prevention Task Force, to prevent at-risk youth from joining local gangs. The coordinator of this event is former probation officer and former Washington-Lee graduate, Robert “Tito” Vilchez.
The tournament began in 2005 in Arlington County as a way to combat gang activity in the Latino community. Vilchez thought soccer would be a great way to bring the Latino community together. It began as an initiative to help youth feel like they are a part of something, which research shows as the main reason youth join gangs. The tournament gives youth ranging from ages 12 to 17 the opportunity to participate in positive recreational activities such as sports and after-school clubs as alternatives to gang participation.
The Gang Prevention Task Force hosts this event to appeal to youth in Northern Virginia that emigrated from gang-infested and soccer prevalent countries. The youths coming from other countries tend to feel isolated from others in the community, and the tournament gives them an opportunity to be a part of something, he said.
But, Vilchez warns that no community is immune from gang violence. Vilchez also applauds the Arlington community’s participation in the previous soccer tournaments.
“That’s what’s amazing about Arlington County, we come together.” Vilchez said.
Vilchez attributes the success of the previous tournaments to the community and the generous contributions of local businesses. Vilchez and the rest of the Gang Prevention Task Force expect the same turnout for this year’s event.
Vilchez hopes that this tournament can encourage people to get involved and become mentors for these children. The taskforce will also be providing lunch for the local volunteers as a token of their appreciation.
“It only takes one hours a week to make a difference.” Vilchez said.
Vilchez and the rest of the task force will be hosting a table on tournament day for the community to get involved and sign up to be mentors.
The tournament will be held Sunday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Register by emailing Vilchez at rvilchez@arlingtonva.us or call 703-274-2699.