Beyond the Goal: An Immigrant's Journey through Soccer and Community Building

In this powerful episode of From Home to Here, host Alejandra Villalobos McAnderson speaks with Mariana Figueroa and Christian Anderaos, two immigrants whose passion for soccer brought them to the United States. Mariana, a dedicated advocate for women’s soccer, shares her journey from Cali, Colombia, to Kansas City, where she now works as KC Current’s Community Relations Coordinator. She highlights the cultural obstacles she faced and the pride she feels in using sports to inspire youth and promote inclusivity. Chris, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, discusses his path as a professional indoor soccer player for the Kansas City Comets and founder of Playmaker Soccer Academy. Known as the "Tasmanian Devil" on the field, Chris also serves as a Portuguese broadcaster for KC Current. Both guests dive into the challenges of adapting to a new country, the strength they draw from their roots, and their shared commitment to giving back to the community. Mariana and Chris reflect on the cultural values and traditions they've brought from home, as well as their dreams of creating pathways for future generations in sports and education. This episode is a celebration of resilience, cultural pride, and the unifying power of soccer. PRODUCED BY FIREDUP STUDIOS x EYE OF AN IMMIGRANT x ULOM APP