Inspira podcast: Episode 11 - Bruno Contreras (Mexico & USA)

Erika Mueller Chen speaks to Bruno Contreras about his experience moving from Mexico to the USA, and how Soccer Without Borders creates a sense of belonging for newcomers and refugees.

About Inspira

Launched in January 2023, the Inspira Podcast with Erika Mueller Chen is an interview-based podcast that provides career advice and stories from global change-makers in Sport for Development, Social Impact, and the Diplomatic Service. In 2023, 50 interviews with inspirational leaders working in Sport for Development and Peace from over 35 different countries will be published.

About the Episode Guest

Bruno Contreras came to Boston from Mexico City in 2016, arriving with beginner English skills and a wealth of experience building youth development programs for youth through soccer. Joining Soccer Without Borders right away, he quickly became entrenched in the SWB community in Boston. In 2020, he was named Director, and has since overseen the program's expansion in the Greater Boston and Springfield areas.

In his own words, "There is a concept in geography called 'non-place' which means transitory places where social actions cannot take place. Before immigrants got here to this country, many of them were in transitory non-places such as roads, shelters, deserts, airports. My goal as Director of SWB Massachusetts is to ensure that the program serves as a clear transition from such non-places to a community that feels like home.”

Listen to Episode 11: Bruno Contreras (Mexico & USA) - How can sport promote social inclusion for newcomers?

Learn More

To learn more about the Inspira Podcast, read episode transcripts, and access “Erika’s Global Resource Hub” - a robust written resource created to support folks interested in Sport for Development and Peace, please visit Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen.

Erika Mueller Chen is an international development specialist with over a decade of experience leveraging the amazing power of sport to promote peace and positive social impact. She currently works in Sports Diplomacy and resides in Mexico.