Why I Started Roots International.

I arrived in the United States from South Sudan as a young refugee carrying little more than hope.

Like many refugee and immigrant youth, I was learning a new language, navigating an unfamiliar culture, and trying to figure out where I belonged. I often felt invisible — caught between the life I had left behind and the future I was trying to build.

The hardest part was not knowing where to turn. I struggled to understand the school system, the expectations around me, and how to find my place in a new community. While caring people helped me along the way, I often wondered how many young people were facing the same challenges without that support.

That question became a turning point.

As I grew older and began working with refugee and immigrant youth, I saw my own story reflected in theirs. I met students carrying the weight of cultural adjustment, interrupted education, family responsibilities, and experiences they rarely talked about. And yet I also saw something else: extraordinary resilience, talent, and leadership waiting to be nurtured.

I knew these young people didn't need rescuing. They needed belonging, encouragement, and the opportunity to thrive.

That conviction led me to found Roots International.

Roots International is built on a simple belief: every young person deserves the chance to discover their potential and build a hopeful future. Through sports, mentorship, education, arts, leadership development, and mental health support, we create spaces where refugee and immigrant youth can belong, build confidence, develop skills, and become leaders in their communities.

This mission is deeply personal. I am not serving from a distance — I am serving from experience. I know what it feels like to be the new kid. To struggle with identity and belonging. To adapt to a new culture while carrying family and community expectations. And most importantly, I know the difference one mentor, one coach, one teacher, or one caring community can make.

Today, I have the privilege of becoming the support I once needed.

But this work is bigger than me.

Roots International is about what happens when a community truly invests in its young people. Imagine every refugee and immigrant youth knowing they belong. Young people discover their talents through sports, gain confidence through mentorship, succeed in school, find their voice through the arts, and step into leadership roles they never thought possible.

The impact reaches far beyond the individual — to families, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, and generations to come.

That is the future we are building together.

What We Are Building Right Now

Roots International is more than a vision. It is already creating opportunities for refugee and immigrant youth in Spokane — and the response has been humbling.

Soccer Program

Our first active program is a soccer program for boys ages 10–18 — and what began as a simple dream to bring youth together through sport has grown into something we didn't fully anticipate.

Today, we have 55 registered participants, with 30–35 youth consistently attending weekly practices and scrimmages against local teams throughout Spokane. On the field, youth learn far more than soccer. They develop teamwork, discipline, leadership, and confidence. They build friendships across cultures that extend well beyond the game.

For many participants, the soccer field has become the first place in Spokane where they felt accepted, encouraged, and free to simply be kids. Parents regularly report improved confidence, new social connections, and stronger school engagement after their children joined the program.

Girls Volleyball Program

We have also launched a volleyball program specifically for refugee girls — because we know that many young women in our community come from backgrounds where privacy, trust, and safety are especially important.

Our goal is simple: provide a welcoming space where girls can stay active, build friendships, grow in confidence, and be part of a community that understands their experience. Early participation has grown steadily through word-of-mouth referrals from families — which tells us something important about the trust this program is already building.

As participation grows, we hope to expand opportunities for girls across all of our program areas.

Relaunching the NEEMA Youth Choir

One of the opportunities we are most excited about is the relaunch of a beloved community institution through our Arts pathway.

Many community members remember the impact of the NEEMA Youth Choir — how music gave young people friendship, purpose, confidence, and a way to celebrate their cultures while sharing their gifts with Spokane. We believe it is time to bring that vision back.

Our goal is to begin assembling the choir in late September, bringing together youth from diverse cultural backgrounds who share a love for music, community, and personal growth. We aim to engage at least 25 youth in the first year and provide multiple community performance opportunities that showcase their talents and strengthen cross-cultural understanding.

Most importantly, it will be a place where young people can find their voice — and discover that their story matters.

Mentorship and Leadership Development

Mentorship is woven throughout everything we do. Through trusted relationships with coaches, volunteers, and community leaders, youth receive the encouragement, guidance, and positive role models they need to navigate school, relationships, and their futures.

As this pathway grows, our goal is straightforward: every participating youth should have access to a caring adult mentor and real opportunities to develop leadership skills through service, peer support, and community involvement.

Looking Ahead

These programs may seem modest in scale. But what they represent is anything but.

Every practice, rehearsal, mentor conversation, and new friendship is a moment where a young person feels seen, valued, and connected. These moments build confidence, belonging, and hope. They help young people discover the potential that was always within them.

As Roots International grows, we will expand all six pathways — adding tutoring, educational support, mental health resources, and broader community engagement that strengthens both youth and families. And across everything we do, we are committed to measuring what matters: participation, retention, youth satisfaction, leadership growth, and educational engagement.

How You Can Help

We are just getting started — and we cannot do this alone.

The response from youth and families has shown us the need is real. Young people are looking for places to belong. Families are seeking support. Communities want stronger connections across cultures.

Today, we are looking for individuals, businesses, churches, foundations, and community leaders who want to invest in the next generation.

Current needs:

• Volunteer coaches for our growing soccer program

• Mentors who can encourage and guide youth

• Volunteers to support programs and events

• Financial support for youth programming and equipment

• Community partnerships that expand opportunities for youth

• A permanent facility where youth can gather, learn, play, and grow together

That last need deserves special mention. One of our greatest priorities is finding a dedicated home for Roots International — a permanent space that would allow us to provide consistent programming, host community events, offer tutoring and mentoring, and create a true gathering place where youth and families feel welcome year-round.

Every dollar invested creates opportunities for young people eager to learn, grow, and contribute. Every volunteer helps create a safer, more welcoming environment. Every partnership expands our reach.

When you support Roots International, you are not funding programs. You are investing in futures. You are helping a young person discover their voice. You are helping a family feel connected. You are helping a future leader find their footing.

Most importantly, you are helping build a community where every young person has the chance to belong, grow, and thrive.

I invite you to learn more, meet the youth we serve, and join us on this journey.

Together, we can help the next generation develop roots strong enough to weather any storm — and dreams big enough to change the world.

— Jackson Lino
Founder & Director, Roots International