Outcasts United: A Story of Hope, Conflict, and Transformation on the Playing Fields of a Small American Town
by Warren St. John
We have been involved in a lot of wonderful author events at the Carter Center over the years, but I can't think of any that have been more moving than April's event with Warren St. John, the author of Outcasts United: A Story of Hope, Conflict, and Transformation on the Playing Fields of a Small American Town.
The book is the story of a youth soccer team, The Fugees, made up of boys from families that have been relocated to the tiny southern town of Clarkston, GA, just east of Atlanta, from war-torn and otherwise troubled countries all over the world.
The book is also about Luma Mufleh, the Jordanian-born coach of the team, who shared the stage with St. John last night and, along with audience members who engaged the two in dialogue, brought tears to almost every one of the more than 300 folks in attendance with her story.
Just the make-up of the crowd was enough to inspire: young and old and everything in between and every shade of skin and every imaginable accent. Clarkston can be proud. This was truly a diverse crowd, and as St. John repeatedly points out, the diversity found in Clarkston is like a snapshot of our nation, though maybe in fast forward. Though the story of the Fugees as told in St. John's reporting includes incidences of conflict, it is overwhelming the tale of overcoming immense challenges and figuring out how people of so many different backgrounds can work together, and thrive.
Thanks to Tony Clark and his fine staff from the Carter Presidential Library and the Carter Center, the magical evening was captured on videotape, and we will be posting that here as soon as we can.
Outcasts United is a wonderful read. More significantly, what's going on with refugee relocation in Clarkston and in particular with Luma Mufleh and the Fugees, is an ongoing and important story. For a limited time, we will have copies of the book signed by both Warren St. John and Coach Luma.
The book has already gone into a second printing. These are firsts!
A portion of every sale of these books benefits the Fugee Family.
If you could not attend the reading and would like to purchase a signed copy of Outcasts United you may use the shopping cart below.
Warren St. John
Outcasts United: A Story of Hope, Conflict, and Transformation on the Playing Fields of a Small American Town (signed copy)
$24.95