Ep. 6 — Mario Wimberly: Service, Access, and the Power of Soccer

In this episode, Mario Wimberly, co-founder of SOL of the City, shares how soccer can be a powerful vehicle for service, access, and community building in the Twin Cities. Mario reflects on his personal journey with the game and how those experiences led him to challenge traditional youth soccer norms. The conversation dives into SOL’s Serve to Play model—an alternative to the pay-to-play system that centers service, leadership, and mentorship as pathways to participation. Through real stories and lived experience, Mario illustrates how soccer can unite diverse communities, empower young people, and create lasting social change far beyond the field.