Community through conversation

Typically suited for quiet activities, the Logan Library has an upbeat air to it as children flock to the second floor a few times each month to join in on some fun. What are they doing? Well, they’re supposed to be doing homework. 

With help from student volunteers, these kids work on homework and assignments in a tutoring program through Athletics United, a non-profit organization focused on bringing the community together. For them, that means creating a safe and fun environment during their meetings, even if the kids don’t get all their homework done on tutoring nights.

“Our priorities are not checking off assignments,” said Athletics United student lead Mayu Mecham. “Our main goal is to have a safe space for them.” 

Mecham explained the program’s welcoming environment is important to maintain because many of its participants are adjusting to change. Those who show up mostly come from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. 

“Everyone is welcome, but that’s the population we are mostly targeting,” Mecham said.

Along with the children, adult community members also get involved, receiving help with their English skills, obtaining a library card or anything else they might need. Mecham said many of them have a difficult time moving to a new place, which is why they focus on creating a sense of community. 

“They just come whenever they want. It’s not like they sign up — it’s not mandatory,” Mecham said. “This is a community place.”

However, it isn’t library cards and tutoring that got this program up and running.

Mike Spence, founder and executive director of Athletics United, used to be the cross country associate head coach at Utah State University. After he stopped coaching in 2016, he missed the running community so much he got involved again — this time in a different direction. 

“I became aware that we had a vibrant refugee community here in Logan that I didn’t even know about,” Spence said. “That was how we started — just as a running club.”

While he was at USU, Spence was able to focus on community and inclusion through coaching. Once he was no longer a part of that scene, he missed the involvement USU provided, which is why he was inspired to start a running club. 

“The idea of running is that running is an easy thing to participate in — no barriers to entry,” Spence said. “Shoes, no shoes, doesn’t matter.”

For Spence, what really mattered was getting out of the “bubble.” This meant inviting the neighborhood to meet in a grass field to do 50-meter sprints as their first official club meeting. 

“We didn’t know what we were going to do at first,” Spence said. “We just met at a local elementary school.”

After pacing off 50 meters, Spence had the kids run. Despite many initial complaints, he said they were hooked by the second, make-shift practice. 

“At the next practice, we ran for 10 minutes in a circle, and I would jot down how many laps everyone did,” Spence said. “Everyone kept going.”

Yanet Standi, one of the original members of the club, recalled what it was like during those first few meet-ups.

“I remember doing extra laps,” Standi said. “I’ve never seen that many kids as well, even though I lived there.”

After weeks of successful turnout and many 50-meter sprints, they decided to take their club one step further.

“We kept showing up week after week, and kids kept showing up week after week, so we entered a local 5K,” Spence said. 

By that point, Standi and her fellow club members were already talking about what else they could accomplish. 

The group was originally going to take a break over the winter months, but after receiving family and community support during their 5K and a turnout of 30 people running for Athletics United, the kids were adamant about keeping the club going in the cold.

“We found a place at the rec center, and we started running inside,” Spence said. “That was it. We just ran all year.”

From there, Spence said, the rest came down to conversation.

“That’s the thing about running — it gives you an excuse to be in the same place, and you can talk as much or as little as you want or need that day,” Spence said.

Because the club carpooled during the winter months, they also had extra time for talking.

“One of those conversations that came up was about this library and how families wanted to get library cards but didn’t know how to do that,” Spence said.

After their carpool conversation, Spence and the club set up a library night to help families and kids get library cards. 

“Then just like running, nobody wanted to go home,” Spence said. “We decided to read some books, and pretty soon, that turned into a tutoring night and a reading night.”

Now, Athletics United has been doing tutoring for six years, all because the community felt comfortable enough to ask for help on the way home. 

“I think the thing that I loved about it was the non-judgment zone,” Standi said. “It created trust.”

For Standi, a large part of that trust came from the original student volunteers who helped her with her homework and assignments. She said they made her feel comfortable.

“They were just kids,” Standi said. “They weren’t somebody who was teaching.”

Participants Haben Okubeadrias and Rahel Abdela, amid banter, explained what the program means to them. 

“The program is very kind,” Okubeadrias said. “It’s very helpful for you to learn new things. It also teaches you new languages.”

For Okubeadrias, this program is not only a way for her to work on her English without judgement but a way for her and Abdela to have a bit of fun, including playing Giant UNO.

Spence said this is exactly the kind of outcome the program is looking for.

“Everyone has an individual opportunity to make a difference in their community and to create those safe spaces that we all rely on to be ourselves,” Spence said. “I think we all have more individual power than we realize to make a difference. It takes effort and it takes getting outside your comfort zone, but at the same time, it’s not complicated, and it’s fun.”

Standi believes the answer is simple.

“Just don’t be afraid,” Standi said. “You’re just in your bubble — but step out.”

Whether it’s running, getting a library card, tutoring children with their homework or just having fun, Standi urges students and community members alike to “get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

For her, it’s made all the difference. 

To volunteer with Athletics United, sign up on GivePulse under Utah State University at usu.givepulse.com/group/9931-Utah-State-University.