DC SCORES students visit the White House, see President Obama speak

The wait was long, but well worth it.

Last Wednesday, a group of DC SCORES students from Oyster-Adams Bilingual School had the experience of a lifetime when they were invited to the White House’s South Lawn to witness the arrival ceremony of Mexico President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and his wife Mrs. Margarita Zavala.

Up2Us, a national coalition of sports-based youth development organizations, invited DC SCORES to attend the event, and we were able to take some of our middle school students to witness the special ceremony. The Oyster-Adams students were one of just three or four student groups on the lawn who witnessed President Hinojosa and Mrs. Zavala pull up in a car and be greeted by the Obamas.

Hilary Clinton and Joe Biden, among other famous figures, were also on hand.

The bilingual students then stood, transfixed, as both countries’ national anthems were played by a pair of Army bands and President Obama took the podium to speak. DC SCORES students have seen and met past presidents, but the Oyster poet-athletes were the first to see Obama in person.

Clearly, the moment meant so much to them.

They also listened attentively to President Calderón’s speech, as he talked about working together with the United States. Teamwork is one of DC SCORES’ three tenets, and to hear about it from the president of the country many of them are from and still have relatives in sent a strong message.

Overall, the experience was unforgettable for the students. Sebastian D., who moved from Colombia two months ago, had talked about the visit the night before with his father, who lamented the fact that he’d been in the United States for 10 years and still hadn’t seen a president.

Sebastian clearly felt pretty special getting the opportunity to witness President Obama up close so soon.

And his teammates, all decked out in their yellow soccer jerseys, felt the same way.

DC SCORES Inspired Art performances on YouTube

If you didn't make it to the first annual Inspired Art Gala at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, don't worry. You can still experience the Gala through the tremendous performances of eight DC SCORES students and four professionals.

Above is a sneak peak of the show that was put on -- the performance by Tubman Elementary School's Henry L.

And all of the performances are on YouTube.

DC SCORES' service-learning: benefitting students and their surrounding communities

This being the final week of spring programming, DC SCORES students are completing their service-learning projects. But what exactly does this mean? Communications & Events Director Tohry Petty explains:

The mission of DC SCORES is to inspire youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities. Through the tools of soccer, creative writing, and service-learning every day after school, DC SCORES reaches 700 poet-athletes in 23 schools across the District of Columbia.

Wait. Service-learning?

People unfamiliar with our unique program often ask about the connection between soccer, creative writing, and service-learning and their benefits for youth. They see the importance of physical fitness and school engagement in the short- and long-term development of the student, but may not identify how service-learning can benefit a student’s growth and development.

Well, service-learning combines the act of community service with an educational twist: Participants take part in the planning of the project and reflect on the project after its completion – discussing its purpose, benefit to the community, and its effect on themselves.

Each spring DC SCORES students continue to study poetry in the context of our Writing for the Community (elementary school) and Leadership in Action (middle school) curricula, which guides each team through the service-learning process. They begin their service-learning projects with a look around. Called a “Community Walk,” students jot down challenges they observe or issues that may need fixing or improvement; they come together as a group and develop the project that they will work on as a team to make a change within their community. With the project decided, students write letters to their principals, and contact local organizations, businesses, and city council members for support of their endeavor.

Under last year’s theme of “healthy living,” the students at Marie Reed Learning Center created a project to begin a recycling program at their school. The students designed and hung posters throughout the school, provided each classroom with recycling containers, and initiated a partnership with a local recycling center.

At Kelly Miller Middle School, students created a campaign to combat obesity and raise awareness about healthy lifestyles. Called the “Fight for Your Life” campaign, the DC SCORES team at Kelly Miller organized a school-wide mile run/walk. They created informational posters that were displayed throughout the school, surveyed students about their lifestyles, organized other students and teachers to participate, and created a public service announcement to educate their peers.

Participation in service-learning activities can benefit youth in a number of ways. The breakdown of the service project through planning and reflection promotes problem-solving skills, planning abilities, and the ability to work within a team. Students also become more engaged in their communities as they learn that they can impact real challenges that exist within their neighborhoods.

Beyond the students involved, the community and the people served also greatly benefit. For example, the recycling program started by the DC SCORES team at Reed is still in effect and has been adopted as the school’s recycling program.

This season, the theme for DC SCORES’ service-learning projects has been “the environment.” At the beginning of the spring DC SCORES season, students and coaches brainstormed ways to preserve the environment, promote environmental awareness, or highlight a specific project.

This week, each of our 23 schools are finishing up their projects and honing them for presentations that will be made at the June 5 Jamboree.

Knowing the creativity that exists among students of all the DC SCORES schools, the possibilities for projects are endless but one thing is certain – the environment is undergoing a positive change this spring.

-- Written by Tohry Petty, Communications & Events Director

Watch soccer and support DC SCORES this Saturday: Champions League Final watch party at Public Bar

With a very successful first annual Inspired Art Gala behind us, our focus has now shifted to making the DC SCORES Cup adult soccer tournament (July 10, Maryland SoccerPlex) the most fun, action-packed event for participants.

So we're not waiting to start Cup-related activities. Tomorrow is the Champions League final, pitting FC Bayern München vs. FC Internazionale Milano, and DC SCORES will be at Public Bar in DC (18th and Connecticut, NW) to watch the game and promote the Cup.

The watch party will begin at 2 p.m., with the game beginning at 2:45 p.m. It will be shown on several of Public’s large array of HD TVs, and there will be $3 Peronis and half-priced appetizers. DC SCORES is asking for a suggested $5 donation at the door.

Additionally, we will be on hand to answer any questions about the Cup and pass out Cup-related materials.

And this isn’t the only SCORES Cup party, either. On June 12, we’ll be back at Public Bar for the U.S.-England World Cup game. And all Cup participants will be invited to a draw party at Public later in the month.

So if you’re a soccer fan, Public is the place to be tomorrow – both for a great game-watching experience, and to support the District’s largest urban youth soccer program and learn how you can put your cleats and shin guards on to further support DC SCORES.

We hope to see you at Public Bar tomorrow. The fun will start at 2 p.m.

If you have any questions about the DC SCORES Cup or our watch parties, contact Jake Lloyd at jlloyd@americascores.org or 202.393.699 x301.

DC SCORES Inspired Art is a rousing success, leaves guests moved

Throughout the DC SCORES Inspired Art Gala Wednesday night, the 200 or so guests talked about one theme -- the uniqueness of the event.

Sure, they'd been to dozens of charity events, galas and balls in the D.C. area -- and very good ones, at that. But never anything quite representing what they witnessed first-hand at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. And that's what we were aiming for: a one-of-a-kind event that highlighted just how unique and special our program is.

The night as a whole was a rousing success. From the silent auction, which featured 70 pieces of donated art inspired by DC SCORES students' poetry, to the student and professional performances, the guests had a great time and left feeling good about the financial and time commitments they made.

The venue, also, was close to perfect. The Corcoran atrium, a large, open room with a coliseum-type feel, held the silent auction at one end and food and beverages -- including delicious Mahi Mahi tacos -- on the other. For an hour and a half, guests enjoyed the refreshments and then walked over to the tables and easels that featured a great diversity of artistic works (see the pictures).

As the closing time for the action grew near, it was impossible not to notice as certain guests hovered near the pieces of art they had bid on. There was an attachment they felt to certain pieces, which clearly stemmed from more than just a need to add a piece of art to their living room wall.

At 8:40 p.m., we officially closed the silent auction and began ushering guests into the small, cozy Corcoran auditorium. And that's where eight DC SCORES students -- Saba A. (MacFarland Middle School, pictured above); Henry L. (Tubman Elementary School); Ingrid M. and Ingrid V. (Columbia Heights Education Campus); James P. (Raymond Education Center, pictured below); Daniela S. (H.D. Cooke ES); Jasia S. (Burrville ES); and A’dora W. (Arts and Technology Academy) – put on absolutely captivating performances.

So captivating, in fact, that when they were finished, the audience instinctively stood up to shower them with a standing ovation.

The performances demonstrated just how hard the students have worked on refining their poems over and over again. Many of them recited the same works as they did at the Poetry Slam! in early December, and you could tell they hadn’t stopped working on their performance techniques.

The hand movements, it seemed, were almost choreographed, the words were clearly enunciated, and a rock-solid confidence filled each word that was spoken. The students even inspired a quartet of professional performers, who have plenty of experience taking the stage at huge events and motivating audiences with their words and cadences.

Gabriel “Asheru” Benn, a hip hop artist, educator and youth advocate who has won a Peabody award; Ayanna Gregory, a soul singer, songwriter and agent of change who has performed at major rallies with the likes of Stevie Wonder; David James, lead vocalist for Ndelible, an alternative/soul/hip hop band; and Grammy-nominated hip hop artist Christylez Bacon (pictured below) put together stellar performances that had the students, seated at the bottom of the stage, bobbing their heads to the beats that were flowing and, undoubtedly, picturing themselves one day making the kind of impact the pros in front of them do every time they perform.

But on Wednesday night, the students were the stars, were the motivators. How was that evident?

Well, when the performances and speeches were complete -- in between performances, Executive Director Amy Nakamoto awarded Allen Y. Lew, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization, with the DC SCORES Inspiration Award – the students filed back into the atrium and were immediately asked by guests to autograph their Inspired Art programs.

So for a good half hour, the eight students sat at a table eating the array of delicious desserts and signing programs for the adoring adults.

And that, as much as anything, spoke to the impact the first annual Inspired Art Gala had on those who attended.

Inspired Art Preview: A small look at the art-poetry connection

We are just two days away from our first Inspired Art Gala, and it's hard to move in the office considering all the artwork on tables, against the walls and, well, everywhere.

The Gala, to be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, will feature approximately 70 pieces of art created by local artists. The professionals were given DC SCORES poems to base their works on, so guests will be able to make connections between the artwork and poetry on display.

From checking out the pieces of art and and the poems with which they're paired, I can attest that the artists have done an incredible job of conveying the feelings and ideas -- whether happy or sad, simple or complicated -- expressed by the students' poetry.

There is a limited number of tickets -- on sale until noon Wednesday -- still available for the Gala, which will also include performances by seven DC SCORES students and three professional spoken-word musicians.

To give you a taste of what will be on display Wednesday, here is one of the poem-artwork combinations that will be featured at the silent auction table. You can see a larger collection of examples on the Inspired Art website.

My Time of Sorrow

I hear the words

Over and over again

“He is dead, He is dead”

I felt my heart shatter into pieces

I thought to myself this can’t be true

This can’t happen to me

I fell to the ground

With lightening through my mind

My body shook like thunder

My tears dropped to the ground

As if houses were flooding

I thought in my mind,

“This is my moment of sorrow”

Saba A., Grade 6

MacFarland Middle School

National Poetry SLAM! diary: NY-style pizza, incredible performances and amazing poet-athletes

On April 19, two outstanding poet-athletes represented DC alongside 24 of their peers from across the country in the 2010 National Poetry SLAM! The special event took place at the New York Stock Exchange, where students ages 10-13 displayed their individual talents and community spirit with inspiring poetry. However, the performance simply capped off an unforgettable few days in The Big Apple. Zach Elkin, DC SCORES’ Elementary School Program Coordinator, was on hand:

I had the pleasure to chaperone Burrville’s Jasia S., 9, and Raymond’s James P., 11, to New York City. They had not previously met, but immediately formed a big brother/little sister relationship that endured throughout the trip. When the outline of the Manhattan skyline came into view from our train, I directed Jasia's and James’ eyes out the window. “Wow,” they said simultaneously. “That’s so cool.”

The first evening, we decided to eat at a local diner. “This is the biggest menu I’ve ever seen!” one of them exclaimed. “Breakfast for dinner!?” They loved the food and atmosphere so much, they lobbied to eat there again for breakfast on the way out of town.

At night, a chaperone from San Francisco and I were responsible for James and four other boys. Before bed, each student recited their poetry, pretending that the hotel rug was their stage and we were the audience. This was my first chance to hear some of the amazing creativity and hard work that SCORES students from California to Wisconsin had put into this weekend.

The next morning at the City Year New York headquarters, students interacted and played “getting to know you” games, and received individual advice on their poems from poetry specialists. After an entire morning of important but often tedious practice, the students boarded a bus to Central Park.

At the park, students split into teams to scrimmage. Normally a goalkeeper, James decided to try the forward position, and used his strength and vision to always be around the ball. Jasia, unaccustomed to goalie play, also stepped out of her comfort zone and played a terrific keeper, stopping many shot attempts and wowing staff with her powerful punts and goal kicks. With each pass, teammates formed new bonds that didn’t exist just 24 hours prior.

That evening, with all the students and chaperones dressed in their formal attire, we boarded a bus to the South Street Seaport area where we were welcomed by gracious staff at the Harbour Lights Restaurant. Jasia and James refused to turn down any of the countless hors d'oeuvres being served despite me pointing to the placards designating the various kid-friendly entrée choices and cautioning that a full dinner awaited us. From spaghetti and meatballs to apple pie and ice cream, the entire night the poet-athletes were treated like kings and queens – true VIPs.

On Monday morning, Jasia’s father met us at the entrance to the Museum of the American Indian, and together with James and I, we toured the various exhibits and answered the questions on the scavenger hunt sheet.

After James and Jasia finished the scavenger hunt, we explored the Battery Park area of the city and stopped for slices of New York pizza. James and Jasia each got enormous pepperoni slices. “It’s so big you have to fold it!” exclaimed Jasia. We then decided to take a short walk on the harbor, and Jasia and James bought Statue of Liberty hats and had their picture taken with the real statue in the background.

Soon enough, it was time to reconvene at the museum and get ready to head to the New York Stock Exchange to begin final preparations for the SLAM!

The excitement grew walking down Wall Street, and strangers seemed intrigued by the large group of students heading toward the NYSE. When the students had passed through security and were dressed in their performance attire, America SCORES staff led them in some vocal warm-ups and began final rehearsals for the big night.

After over an hour of practice, the students enjoyed a tour of the NYSE and were featured during the closing bell ceremony. While some students stood on the exchange floor as the final bell rung, others packed the balcony and clapped along with America SCORES president Norma Barquet, US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati and Fred Popp, Board Chair of America SCORES. A few minutes later, the kids filed back into the auditorium, beaming and holding their bell ringing ceremony medals.

As 7:30 p.m. approached and guests made their way upstairs from the pre-event reception and auction on the stock exchange floor, we all took time to collect our thoughts and get mentally prepared. For 10 minutes, the room of students sat silent, many with their heads in their arms, some with closed eyes, all preparing themselves for the big stage. Quietly weaving my way around the room, I saw focus, determination and confidence in every poet-athlete, each ready to impress the audience with their poetry.

And oh how the poet-athletes impressed. Comfortable, courageous and inspirational, students delivered their best performances of the weekend. Their voices were the loudest, posture the firmest, and their overall stage presence the most confident yet. It was obvious to the chaperones and staff that the students had really geared up for the event and put it all out there on stage.

Each poet’s final words elicited a roaring applause (and often tears) from the amazed audience. For the finale, the students performed their rehearsed group poem, each speaking to their home communities, screaming their city names to the crowd. To close the poem, the students shouted, “It’s time to celebrate America SCORES!”

As the instant celebrities enjoyed an assortment of sweets post-SLAM!, they signed event programs to give to fans and posed for pictures. I stepped to the back of the room to get a panoramic view – and the poets were relaxed, joking and laughing with their peers who had been strangers just a few days prior.

It was a truly an unforgettable moment for me – to see these students from different parts of the country, different shapes, ages, and personalities, sharing this wonderful moment as a SCORES community.

In my room back at the hotel, the boys were wildly excited, jumping around to the point that our downstairs neighbors believed a gymnastics practice was taking place. But that lasted just 15 minutes before one student from Dallas asked that everyone quiet down and gather around the bed. He wanted to watch a 9/11 documentary he purchased earlier that day, which he thought we should see as a group.

I asked everyone individually if they were comfortable with this idea and told them it was perfectly acceptable if they refused to watch. Each boy said they thought it was important to see the events that took place when many of them were just 3 years old. So the six of us huddled around my laptop and for 20 minutes sat silently, almost breathless, as we took in the horrific images and stories. At its conclusion, we discussed why 9/11 happened, what it meant for the United States, and how it affected them.

For me, this was the ultimate finale to cap the weekend. To be around such thoughtful, creative, understanding, and mature young adults was a true blessing.

On the NYSE stage each student displayed their enormous talents, but off the stage is where their true character shined.

Celebrated musicians set to join students on stage at DC SCORES Inspired Art Gala

A large part of our first Inspired Art Gala, May 19 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, obviously is the collection of approximately 70 pieces of art paired with DC SCORES poems that will be auctioned off.

But it is not the only attraction of the event, which will begin at 7 p.m. (click here to buy tickets). In addition to the art, the night will feature poetry readings by at least six DC SCORES schools as well as three special, very accomplished performances by guest spoken-word specialists.

Gabriel “Asheru” Benn is not only a Peabody Award-winning Hip Hop artist here in DC, but he has a very real connection to the students DC SCORES serves – he has been a teacher and administrator in DCPS for the past 13 years and founded Guerilla Arts Inki, LLC, a community service organization that specializes in education through the arts. He also is involved with other literacy programs that help students through hip hop.

And those who attend Inspired Art, will have the pleasure of seeing Benn perform. Since 1997, he has released several hip hop albums and performed alongside the likes of Common, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Ludacris, The Roots and others.

So you won’t want to miss Benn’s performance. And you won’t want to miss out on Ayanna Gregory, either.

The soul singer, songwriter and agent of change sings not just to entertain, but to heal audiences with her beautiful, soothing voice. Since attending Howard University in the early 1990s, Gregory has been recognized as powerful and progressive as she’s been called on to perform at major rallies and marches.

In 2003, the soul music artist put forth her debut album, “Beautiful Flower,” and since then she’s traveled the world performing her spiritual music while sharing stages with icons such as Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou and many others.

Gregory is the daughter of celebrated comedian and human rights activist Dick Gregory.

Finally, David James promises to put on a captivating show. James is the front man for Ndelible, an alternative/soul/hip hop band that plays high-energy shows and produces unique cadences. James might not have his entire crew at the Gala – Ndelible also includes guitar player Myron “Q dot’ Mullon and drummer Ron B. – but he’ll undoubtedly have an inspiring performance put together.

Ndelible’s music has been described as a cross between the Foo Fighters and the Fugees, and the group’s debut album, “Time and Chance,” has a little bit of everything, according to their website: “The end result may remind listeners of Prince, Outkast, and even Dave Matthews Band at times."

Since 2006, James’ group has traveled the country, performing alongside the likes of Common, Eric Roberson, Dwele and Fertile Ground. And James, certainly, won’t disappoint when he takes the Inspired Art stage.

So between student performances and three professional acts, the Inspired Art Gala will have quite the entertaining aspect. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with the silent auction – accompanied by snacks and drinks – and will be followed by the performances, in the Corcoran’s beautiful auditorium, around 8:30 p.m.

Adding to the star-studded cast, Michel Martin of NPR will emcee the event and accomplished local architect Allen Y. Lew will be on hand to receive the 2010 Inspiration Award.

Martin is the host of NPR’s popular syndicated “Tell Me More” show and has spent more than 25 years working for newspapers, TV and NPR. Lew, as the Executive Director of the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization for DCPS, has been responsible for managing renovations of DC’s 141 public schools and has also overseen large jobs such as the construction of the Washington Nationals stadium.

District school lunches to become healthier

One aspect of DC SCORES' curriculum is health and nutrition. In addition to providing more than 700 kids with an opportunity to get physical activity as part of a soccer team, we strive to teach them about proper living habits -- especially when it comes to eating.

This is particularly emphasized during the winter, when our Power of Choice curriculum focuses on the benefits of physical activity and living nutritiously.

However, there's only so much DC SCORES can do when it comes to kids eating right. Largely, students' eating habits are in the hands of their parents as well as school administrators. For many of our students, at least two of their staple meals each day are consumed at school as well as a few snacks. So, basically, at least two thirds of their nutritious intake depends on what is served in the school cafeteria.

And for the most part, that hasn't been a good thing. Foods high in sugar, sodium and artificial flavors have dominated Washington, DC public school cafeterias, leading DC to develop the ninth highest obesity rate in the country for kids ages 10-17.

But progress was made Tuesday, when the D.C. Council unanimously approved stringent nutrition and exercise standards as part of the "Healthy Schools" piece of legislation. The measure mandates for District public and public charter schools to add more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to students' meals and at least encourages schools to purchase such foods from organic farms in Virginia and Maryland.

Additionally, thousands of students will be added to the free-lunch program -- which many DC SCORES students are already eligible for -- and, according to The Washington Post, "will eventually triple the amount of time that students have to spend exercising (during school)."

All good things.

Originally, the bill was also going to set a limit on calories per meal (breakfast and lunch), but that was stripped due to opposition by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Still, the measure orders for schools in the District to meet the federal "gold standard" for breakfasts and lunches. Under this standard, there will only be low-fat and nonfat milk served, and a different vegetable and fruit must be served every day.

Hopefully, this will help students become more enthusiastic about eating fruits and veggies -- and DC SCORES can certainly help in encouraging that -- and less reliant on sugary drinks such as chocolate milk and some of the most unhealthy foods out there containing trans fats, which the measure bans. It also limits the sodium and saturated fats that can be served.

The measure also requires all schools to serve breakfast for free, and as long as it's a nutritious breakfast, I'm sure many parents will take advantage of such a time- and money-saver.

Of course, there remains the question of how the city will pay the approximated $6 million per year to accommodate such changes. Council member Mary M. Cheh, who drafted the proposal, suggested a one-cent per ounce tax on canned and bottled soda, which would not only bring in roughly $15 million annually but also, undoubtedly, decrease the number of the sugary drinks consumed by the District's youth -- continuing the trend toward healthier living.

We'll see, however, if that gains any traction. Whatever is done to fund the measure, it can't be debated that the District's students will be eating healthier during the school day before DC SCORES programming even begins.

Inspired Art Sneak Peek: A look at the art and poetry

The DC SCORES Inspired Art Gala is just more than two weeks away, and over the last month local and national artists have been generously creating pieces of art to donate to the new fundraiser.

We have landscapes and abstract art; watercolor paintings, oil paintings, ceramic pottery pieces and other types of art. Most of the art is in, and we're expecting 60 pieces of artwork to be featured alongside DC SCORES poetry at the silent auction tables on May 19 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Of course, that gives you an idea of the variety of art that will be featured at the gala. But you can only do so much imagining. So beginning this week, we're featuring donated pieces of art paired with poems on the Inspired Art website. Check out the site each Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the event to see the new highlighted art-poetry combination -- and others.

And then buy your ticket(s) to the event so you can see the large collection of pieces and be treated to performances by DC SCORES poets as well as professional spoken-word musicians.

The first DC SCORES Inspired Art Gala is quickly approaching and tickets are limited. Get a sneak peek of the event here, and then secure your ticket for what should be a truly unique and inspiring evening.