Soccer teen gives hope to those in need
Peoria’s Muhammad, 14, builds foundation to help
When Zuri Muhammad saw friends in her first-grade class who were in need, she decided to do something about it.
Muhammad, now a Peoria High School freshman and soccer player, cofounded an effort called Zuri’s Circle. She drew a butterfly with a circle around it and flowers that became the logo. She went out with her mom to fund-raise, talk to homeless people, get them water, food, clothing, and basic hygiene needs.
It’s been a year-round endeavor ever since, with Christmas coming each day for those who lack necessities just to survive.
“I basically just saw friends who needed help in the community,” said Zuri, now 14. “I wanted to help them, to make sure the stuff I had I could share with others.”
In 2014, Zuri’s Circle became a 501c3 foundation and began connecting with other non-profit groups in the community, providing programs for youths.
Zuri said she some day would like to become either a lawyer or doctor, see the world.
She also wants to encourage her peers to dream big, too, no matter how little they might have.
Zuri is a middle child with two older brothers and two younger brothers. Their parents always had their children thinking outside the box in life, not just zeroing in on a sport that may never pan
out for college scholarships.
Kahliq Muhammad, 23, just finished his senior college football season at Clarion, where he was a top wide receiver. He was the first male crossing guard at a grade school in Peoria. He started a clothing line called “Show the World,” which, his mom said, is “more than what you see.”
“You’re a motivator, a student, you’re so many things,” said Kimberly Muhammad, their mom. “You don’t have to be defined by what people think.”
Kahlil Muhammad, 21, a cornerback on Peoria’s football teams in 2017 and ‘18, just finished his college degree and is producing and engineering music. It took him only two years. He had begun taking college courses in high school.
Her youngest brother Israail, 9, a basketball player, has started a reading program for kids within Zuri’s Circle to encourage other children to read.
“He has a little lisp,” Kimberly said. “Children were making fun of him. There’s a reason why you have so many kids not wanting to read. He started this program to encourage kids to read.”
Zuri has wanted to help other kids around here since was old enough to first read.
“I do know that she wants to travel and she wants to inspire,” Kimberly said. “Learning to inspire others through inspiring herself. That’s something we talk about in the program. Be powerful. You have to learn to love and empower yourself before you can do any of that for anyone else.
“When she was little, she would tell people to keep going, don’t give up. Her cousin would always say she started repeating that to people, to be powerful. That’s why we started a program called, ‘Be Powerful.’ “
“I just wanted to make things better in the world,” Zuri said. “Do what I can. So helping my friends was the closest I could get to it. My mom just helped me push it.”
There are many programs within Zuri’s Circle: Giving Tree, Wellness Wednesday, Community School Garden, Building Youth Together Scholarship with You Matter Too, Adopt-A-Classroom, Anti-bullying.
It’s grown so much that Zuri is handing over the foundation to her mom and dad Jackie as she becomes ingrained with high school life, enjoying soccer and her friends, making good grades.
She will attends fund-raisers, gives out food boxes, clothes, water and offers encouragement.
“We have always been pretty active in the community since she was born,” Kimberly said. “We went to Peoria High School and Peoria Elementary School. Our parents always had us involved in Boys and Girls Club. We were always helping other people, doing stuff for the homeless.
“My husband and I made sure our children were raised the same way. Feed the homeless. When she started school, she realized it’s not just people in the street. It was friends, people in her
“I just wanted to make things better in the world. Do what I can. So helping my friends was the closest I could get to it. My mom just helped me push it.”
Zuri Muhammad
Peoria soccer player, 14, co-founder of non-profit Zuri’s Circle
school. She was perceptive to that. She had stuff and wanted them to have it, too.”
Kimberly worked as a care giver, and her two oldest sons would always be around her, watching her help people.
“I think that’s where it started,” Kahlil said. “We went down to Phoenix passing out food and stuff like that. It started to bigger things.”
Kahlil said Zuri made it take off.
“She was always older than what she was,” Kahlil said.
He’s been around his sister as they talk to people who don’t have much. When they can give them something, the smiles on their faces become their rewards.
“I’m happy but I’m kind of sad, too,” Kahlil said. “You hear their stories. There are people who look fine on the outside. But they’re not really fine. It’s a big eye opener. It makes me more grateful for the things I have.”
Every year she moves up a class in school, Zuri finds more kids around her struggling. It just motivates her to help more, create more programs.
“I don’t like seeing my friends, struggle, people that I love,” she said. “I hope this always continues, keeps growing, so that more people can be helped.”
For more information, visit zuriscircle.org.