Elm City Internationals

Elm City Internationals is a New Haven-based youth organization founded in 2008 by Lauren Mednick that uses soccer as a vehicle to provide academic support and mentorship to low-income adolescent boys. The program was inspired by Mednick's work with refugee students and her observation that four struggling seventh-graders transformed their academic performance after joining a soccer team. ECI has achieved a 100% college graduation rate among its alumni, with many returning as mentors and coaches. The organization operates both soccer training and tutoring programs, creating a supportive learning community that addresses educational disparities in New Haven.