The news from the outside world sometimes appears shaky, but the news in my world was a great joy. Today, Ali (Amjad Mohammed Abdulla) was notified by the Albany Times-Union, the region’s biggest and most influential newspaper, that he has been chosen as the “Star Citizen of the Capital Region” for the year.

This is the paper’s highest recognition of a citizen who has best served the community. Reporters there have come out to see Ali in action coaching the team, and have followed some of our work together on the blog.

Ali and I work together almost every day and have for a year, he is my brother from a different mother,  and I can happily testify that this award is richly deserved.

I have been given a rich and first hand view of the wonderful work he has done with a group of refugee children as a coach of the Albany Warriors Soccer Team, and as a friend, teacher and sometimes, a father figure, to these remarkable children. Working with Ali is one of the great privileges of my life.

When these kids first came to America a few years ago, many were in trouble. They spoke little English, struggled in school, were drawn into the streets out of boredom, and were often friendless and isolated. No more.

Ali is tireless, compassionate and fiercely committed to a life of service and good deeds. He makes sure the members of the team have everything they need, and will come flying to their teachers if there is any hint of a problem. He makes sure they are growing and learning and acclimating all the time.

The stories of these children are often heartbreaking, their struggles continuous, they face great language and social and cultural challenges, and in the past couple of years, increasing hostility from their American-born peers, fellow classmates, and sometimes, opposing soccer team players. People tell them all the time that our leaders don’t want them here.

Ali has socially adopted these children – mostly boys but some young women –  in a cloud love and concern, but also insisted that they get excellent grades, behave with civility and dignity, love one another and play hard and fairly on the field. He builds character and security with children who have often experienced real horror and trauma.

I know he was spending a lot of his own money to buy them clothes and get them cell phones and video games as well as books and learning tools. We met one day at a local refugee and immigrant center, where officials there tried to shoo me away with my camera, and Ali swooped in and introduced me to the kids and their families.

Thus, our work together was born.

This year, six of the soccer team members graduated from  junior high school with honors, and one, Sakler Moo, had the highest GPA of anyone in the graduating class.  We got Sakler an IWatch as a recognition of this accomplishment (Ali managed some great deal with a retailer.)

The family lives of these children are often complex. Most have single mothers who work one or more jobs, there is rarely a care or any extra money for fees and uniforms. The Army Of Good has stepped into this void, the team  has new uniforms, sneakers, T-shirts,  headbands, soccer balls and baseball caps.

it is very rare for any parent to be able to attend a game.

The team can stand tall now with the much richer and bigger suburban teams they face.

Many have lost a parent or grandparents and been pulled from their roots, and from everything familiar. Ali stands over them with great love and attention, he is always protecting them, supporting them, teaching them. When their teachers have a problem, they usually call Ali.

It has been my privilege to be the main sponsor of the soccer team for more than six months now, and it has been one of the joys of my life. I am also committed to these young people, they no longer compete in flip-flops and rag-tag uniforms, the Army Of Good has taken them under its wing.

Six months ago, they had to be other teams for worn-out soccer balls, they had no money for the high fees and expenses of American soccer, an upper-middle class sport. Back home, they played soccer barefoot and in the street.

Ali wanted me to make sure to thank all of you for the support you have given the team. He thanks you in the video above.

We go beyond the games, we sponsor outings, practice sessions, boat rides, trek’s to the movies, hikes, pizza dinners, birthday celebrations, visits to our farm, the Mansion Assisted Care Facility, various state parks and lakes, and the Powell House Youth Retreat program.

Ali spearheaded a drive for us to get our own van to take the team for practices, games and outings. Tomorrow, we have sponsored a trip to the Adirondack Farm Land, and next week, a trip to the video game centers and swimming beaches in Lake George, as well as Bedlam Farm.

Ali is a modest man, and he insists he isn’t looking for recognition, but he seemed pleased to me.She should be. He works like a demon to help these kids. Ali had to overcome many obstacles to pull the team together and keep them together. He never stopped fighting for them.

This turned out to be a great news day for Ali, for me, for these children, and hopefully for the Army Of Good. You made all of this possible.