14 DC SCORES stories from an action-packed 2014

Happy almost-New Year! We can't wait for 2015, a year during which we will: continue to serve 1,500 DC youth year-round; provide more opportunities than ever before for alumni to stay engaged with DC SCORES; and much, much more (this is just a tease).

But before jumping into the year, 2014 is worth celebrating. We'd need a book to fit all the incredible, inspiring stories involving program participants, community members, staff, board and supporters. Instead, we've chosen 14 stories.

Enjoy reliving 2014 and if you haven't yet, consider making a year-end gift to DC SCORES today!

Stories are in chronological order

14. Seven schools participate in winter programming
For most of our 47 schools, winter is a short break from DC SCORES. But each year, we grow our scaled-down winter nutrition and soccer program. In 2014, seven elementary and middle schools participated, learning about healthy eating habits and keeping their soccer skills sharp with multi-school clinics.

13. Students shine at National Poetry SLAM!
DC SCORES standout poets Xavier C. of Arts and Technology Academy and Skky M. of Imagine Hope Community Charter School — Tolsen Campus were chosen to represent DC at the America SCORES National Poetry SLAM! in New York City, and boy did they shine. At the New York Stock Exchange, Xavier and Skky were among 26 young poets from across the country who put together one spectacular performance after another for a captivated audience.

12. A TV star is born 
Xavier's night wasn't over at the Stock Exchange. Immediately after the event, he visited NBC studios where he and America SCORES Executive Director Holly O'Donnell were guests on the live TV show 'The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell.' Xavier was a natural as he described his New York experience, and he then captivated the TV audience by reading his poem. Soon after, the TV show's Facebook page lit up with praise for Xavier. Since April, Xavier has performed at a handful of big events in DC, wowing the audience each time.

11. Monsoon can't stop huge turnout for alumni tournament 
No one would have been blamed for not showing up to the alumni soccer tournament in mid-April. Not only was it during spring break, but DC was getting hammered by a legitimate monsoon. Torrents of rain drenched Tubman Elementary School, yet hundreds of program alumni showed their dedication to soccer and former teammates by showing up — and having a good (if wet) time!

10. Incredible coaches, volunteers honored at SCORE Awards
DC SCORES wouldn't be able to build teams for 1,500 youth if the coaches who work every day with the kids didn't build teams themselves. During a poignant night of celebration at LongView Gallery, awards were presented to teams of coaches and individual coaches and volunteers who best represent the teamwork, leadership and commitment that are the core values of DC SCORES programming.

9. The largest event in DC SCORES history
The first staff members arrived at 5:30 a.m. Volunteers came shortly after. And then hundreds upon hundreds of kids, families, community members and more. On May 31 at Anacostia Park, we hosted the largest event in our 20-year history, the 19th Annual Jamboree!. Across a large grassy expanse, 178 soccer games were played during six hours — 178! And there were plenty of other activities, too. Get ready for this year's Jamboree! May 30 — it might be even bigger!

8. 32 companies play in 12th Annual DC SCORES Cup
On June 14, more than 500 DC-area professionals teamed up for the largest DC SCORES Cup to date. Not only did the corporate charity tournament feature a record 32 teams, but for the first time it featured two divisions — Competitive and Casual — and, thus, two champions. And it raised more than $120,000. Sign up for the 2015 Cup by visiting www.DCSCOREScup.org.

7. Bethany Rubin Henderson becomes Executive Director
After an incredibly successful eight years of growth and leadership, Amy Nakamoto moved on and DC SCORES hired Bethany Rubin Henderson to lead the organization and build on all the things accomplished and established.

6. Two special summer camp visits — on the same day! 
DC SCORES provided more summer enrichment and exercise through the arts and soccer than ever before in the form of four free camps. Not only did kids keep their bodies and minds engaged through daily activities, but they enjoyed many field trips and special activities, especially the last week of camp. That's when professional soccer star Javier Zanetti of Inter Milan visited the Bruce Monroe camp to show kids some tricks, and coaches from Manchester United — yes, that club! — gave a soccer clinic to DC SCORES alumni. "It was exciting because they were teaching us stuff that they also teach professional players," Jose Q. said afterward. How cool is that?

5. DC SCORES alumni give back before heading to college
Each summer we're reminded of the impact of DC SCORES on kids' futures and their desire to give back. This year was no different. A large group of alumni worked as DC Summer Youth Employment (SYEP) counselors at camp, including Nana who is now in college but continues to give back to the program by mentoring younger kids.

4. Two visits to the White House
This past fall, DC SCORES visited the grounds of the White House twice! First, kids from Barnard Elementary School were the stars at an event put on by the Social Innovation Fund and U.S. Soccer Foundation. Then, just weeks later, Truesdell Education Campus students got a special treat when they received one-on-one attention from members of MLS champion Sporting K.C. during a clinic on the White House lawn. Both were unforgettable experiences for the kids.

3. Staff member Aaron Cannon wins award
Aaron Cannon was one of a handful of people who joined the DC SCORES staff in August. Just a few months later, Aaron was awarded for his commitment not just to the youth he coaches at Wheatley Education Campus but also the school and greater community when he received a distinguished Mayor's Community Service Award from District mayor Vincent Gray. See all organizational awards here.

2. A tremendous Giving Tuesday
On Dec. 2, we were reminded just how large and amazing the DC SCORES team is when more than $22,000 was raised during Giving Tuesday — far surpassing our goal. Nearly 300 people gave the gift of team during the 24 hours, helping us win the Catalogue For Philanthropy competition for most donors and an additional $5,000. It was the true definition of a team effort.

1. Does it get any better than the Poetry Slam!?
There is no better way to cap off an action-packed DC SCORES season — and year — than with the Poetry Slam!, and this year's 17th edition lived up to the hype. During the two-night event, every school performed original group and solo poems in front of capacity audiences. The event showcased how three months of work in the classroom can transform shy students who don't know what a poem is into confident, spoken word stars. Our blog series on Brightwood Education Campus illustrated this perfectly.

And in just a few months, two more poetry all-stars will head to New York for the America SCORES National SLAM!, just one event in what promises to be another exciting year.

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Want to help us make 2015 better than ever for more DC youth in need? Gift the gift of team today as a tax-deductible donation!

Parent's perspective: Third-grade son becomes passionate about poetry

Makai T. and his mother, LaQueena Rowe, at Fall Frenzy in October. Makai loves writing poetry. 

Of all the things LaQueena Rowe envisioned her kids' interests bringing to her home, a poetry bulletin board never made the list.

However, within weeks of her third-grader Makai T. joining DC SCORES, that was a reality — a board featuring his growing collection of poems.

Like many boys, Makai was most excited about playing sports when DC SCORES entered Ketcham Elementary School this fall.

“He had the soccer stuff ready (before the first practice), he made sure that soccer gear was in his book bag," LaQueena said.

But as much as Makai enjoyed playing soccer, he quickly became an avid writer of poetry. The 8-year-old began bringing home poems about everything from animals, to sports, to his mom — that was LaQueena's favorite.

“When I come home I ask, 'Makai, how was poetry?' He says, ‘Mom, it was wonderful!’” LaQueena said.

"That’s what I like about DC SCORES. It opened up another hobby I could offer him instead of the basics that kids do."

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LaQueena said Makai has always had pretty bad issues paying attention in school. That is, until he received his first DC SCORES notebook and began writing. He still struggles at times, but has made vast improvements.

Not only that, but his handwriting is better and his vocabulary is steadily growing.

Makai was also extremely shy. LaQueena recalled the first project of the year, when Makai mumbled his way through a presentation to the class about tigers.

Now he presents in the house for family family members and when asked if he was timid to present a poem, Makai shook his head vigorously. Nope, he was ready.

LaQueena does some writing herself, so she knows the benefits of putting a pen to paper and expressing oneself. She's not expecting her son to become a Slam! star anytime soon, but recognizes the effect it has had — and will continue to have — on other aspects of his life.

“In our environment you don’t have too much of [the arts]," LaQueena said. "You have just like the football, the loud stuff. For him, the poetry it keeps him calm, he gets in his own mode, and he just goes.

“It opens up another part of Makai I didn’t know existed."

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Please consider giving the gift of a team to child like Makai before the end of the year. Thank you for your support!

For alumnus Sebastian, road to soccer success and college began with DC SCORES

Sebastian (right) is a freshman studying engineering at West Virginia University. 

Meet Sebastian, a freshman at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W. Va. Sebastian is studying engineering and hopes to play soccer for the varsity or club team at the Division I university.

"I'm feeling ready to experience a new life," Sebastian said this fall. "I feel strong and positive. I'm really excited. Im sure this is going to be something super new and excellent with a million and one new opportunities to enjoy."

The opportunities afforded by the college experience seemed thousands of miles away from the immigrant from Colombia when he arrived at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School as an eighth-grader. He didn't know English and had few friends.

But Sebastian knew how to play soccer, and Oyster-Adams had a DC SCORES team. In a matter of months, Sebastian not only became a star on the team, but also a leader with many new friends. From listening to his coaches' instructions, his English improved greatly, too, and his confidence soared.

It didn't take long for coaches at higher levels to notice Sebastian's talent. Not only did he continue playing soccer at Wilson High School, but he was recruited to play for a DC Stoddert club team. Soon after showcasing his ability there, he was picked up by Arlington FC, one of the area's premier club teams.

"DC SCORES is a huge part of me," Sebastian said. "That's how I started from the bottom. I started playing for DC SCORES, another coach saw me playing and he recruited me."

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Sebastian as an SYEP counselor. 

It didn't take long for Sebastian to realize the impact DC SCORES had on his development — even if it was for just one year — both on and off the soccer field.

That's why as a busy, soccer-playing high school student, he made the choice to return to Oyster-Adams as an assistant coach for two years. Sebastian also mentored younger kids as a DC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) counselor at DC SCORES' Soccer & Arts camp.

"DC SCORES shaped me as a soccer player to succeed and get the best," Sebastian said. "As a person, I learned to appreciate things in life and that money is not everything — understanding new people and kids."

Sebastian hopes to get on the team at West Virginia — one of four schools that recruited him — this spring, but his top priority is school. He ended up choosing WVU because of its petroleum program.

But in his spare time — of which there is little — Sebastian gives back. In fact, this past summer when he was in his native Colombia, he spent hours upon hours trying "to implement a soccer program for low income neighborhoods."

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Please consider giving the gift of a team to child like Sebastian before the end of the year. Thank you for your support!

A time for gratitude and the spirit of giving

Cresa Washington DC brought ice cream to summer camp, just one partner making a difference!

Written by Daniel Meloy
Senior Director of Development & Communications

Around this time each year, a special feeling begins to take over the DC SCORES office. We’ve wrapped up our fall season, had two exciting nights of our Poetry Slam!, and are preparing for our office to close for the final week of the year. It is the perfect time for us to reflect on the incredible year we’ve had. (Watch for a blog post next week that will highlight 14 great moments of 2014!)

For me, this year-end reflection inevitably turns to our ever-growing team of supporters — individual donors, corporate partners, foundation and government funders, and volunteers; those for whom the spirit of giving abounds throughout the year. Each day I am overwhelmed by and thankful for the generosity of our community.

Some of this year’s highlights for me include…

Our Couch to Camp Campaign, sponsored for the first time by Cresa Washington DC. Cresa not only supported this campaign financially to provide our summer camps free of charge, but Cresa employees served as “Camp Champs” by individually raising funds from their friends, families, and colleagues. Their efforts culminated in bringing ice cream to the campers during the last week of camp.

This year’s SCORE Awards in early May was an evening to remember. With support from sponsors CIT and Volkswagen Group of North America and staging, lighting and sound donated by EventPro, the beautiful Longview Gallery hosted a crowd of 170 DC SCORES supporters to recognize and honor the commitment of our coaches and volunteers — those who are working with our kids every day after school. It was a magical night!

Throughout the year, foundations and community groups make grants to DC SCORES. This year we welcomed several of these to the DC SCORES team, including the Verizon Foundation, the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, and the World Bank/Aspen Institute.

Two foundations — the Hattie Strong Foundation and the Corina Higginson Trust — really “upped their game” with DC SCORES and are providing multi-year funding. They joined the DC Trust in making funding commitments on which we can rely in future years.

Our team of individual donors continues to grow, and coming together as a team was no more apparent than just a few weeks ago on Giving Tuesday. More than 300 donations poured into DC SCORES on that day alone, far surpassing any day we’d experienced before.

Our League of Champions (LOC) continues to grow as well. Members of the LOC pledge to contribute at least $1,000 each year for five years, thus providing reliable funding throughout the year for years to come. Nearly 50 LOC members have made this commitment!

I’m also reminded that giving comes in many forms, including the gift of time. DC SCORES volunteers gave more than 5,000 hours of service this year. Wow! From refereeing games to serving on committees to painting faces at our big Jamboree! and Fall Frenzy events, volunteers have been selfless with their time.

I’m grateful for all of our volunteers, but two groups of volunteers are especially important to me — our High Five Tour Ambassadors and our program alumni.

For many people, their first introduction to DC SCORES is through a High Five Tour at our office. Tour Ambassadors invite their friends and colleagues to come learn about our work. They’re constantly promoting DC SCORES and bringing new people to our team.

Our alumni volunteers are also our most passionate. They know first-hand how DC SCORES can change lives and their desire to “give back” is unparalleled. If you’ve ever watched a DC SCORES soccer game and saw a young referee, chances are they were a DC SCORES alumnus. In addition to refereeing, our alumni come to the office to help after school, serve as assistant coaches, and are role models for the younger kids in our program. It is heartwarming to see the spirit of giving in these young people.

During this “season of giving,” I’m giving thanks for the entire DC SCORES team. Without our team of supporters, donors and volunteers, we would not be able to reach so many kids and impact so many lives.

Thank you for being part of our team.

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Click here to give the gift of team before the new year! 

The Power of Poetry at Brightwood, Part IX: The Poetry Slam!

This fall, DC SCORES Digital Media Intern Paris Volpe is attending the after-school poetry sessions at Brightwood Education Campus (Elementary School) to observe how the Panthers discover "The Power of Poetry." Each week, Paris is writing about the curriculum and lesson plans of the program. Follow as she documents the progression of the students’ self-expression and writing techniques. You can also follow Paris' experiences on Twitter by following @DCSCORESinterns and view photos on Flickr.

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Written by Paris Volpe
Digital Media Intern

“Oh my gosh, this is happening,” shrieks Makensie T., age 8, as the Panthers are ushered back stage. She latches on to Betelihem G. age, 10, who is just as nervous, but consoles Mackenzie. “It’s going to be fine,” Betelihem says and wipes away Makensie’s tears. Fatiya H., age 10, is taking deep breaths. Ashley A., age 8, is jumping up and down and Troy R., age 10, is attempting to organize everyone else in line.

It’s time.

The Panthers have been preparing for the Poetry Slam! for 12 weeks. The culmination of their hard work approaches as they take the stage at Columbia Heights Education Campus. I wave them on and receive a bright smile from Alexis T., age 8, and a big thumbs up. They’re ready.

The Panthers perform their “I am, I wish poem” first. The poem not only features verses of similes and metaphors but also verses that show the energy and ingenuity of these students.

Next Betelihem performs her individual poem entitled “The Big B.” Earlier when Betelihem practiced one last time, she accidentally skipped a line. “I can’t do this in front of everyone,” she told Coach Nelson.

Nelson responded, “Oh yes you can. No one even noticed you missed a line! Your whole class has your back. You are going to own that stage!“

And she does. She rocks the stage like she was born to perform.

Finally, the Panthers perform their BRIGHTWOOD PANTHERS poem, spelling out the title, followed by adjectives describing their team. Each word is followed with appropriate motions. You wouldn’t have known these kids had the jitters minutes before. The words are polished and their synergy is incredible.

“We are DC SCORES, but we are also the Brightwood Panthers,” they exclaim. The poem couldn’t have ended with a more inspiring verse.

“Did you see us!?” asks Anthony H., age 10. Of course we did, along with a capacity audience of more than 500 people. He and the other Panthers are beaming after their performance. I congratulate the kids and ask Makensie how she kept calm.

“I just kept looking straight ahead and thought of my mom,” she said, smiling.

The coaches and the students have been working hard since day one. They transformed not only as students but also as a DC SCORES team. They turned written poems into spoken word. They exchanged nervous chills for strong voices.

They’ve transformed from elementary school Brightwood Panthers into second-place winners of the Poetry Slam!.

And that’s the Power of Poetry.

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Related posts
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII

DC SCORES coach's journal, Part VI: The night of the Poetry Slam!

Lincoln receives its trophy for finishing in 2nd place at the Westside Poetry Slam!.

Zachary Gomes moved to Washington, DC, two months ago from Albany, NY, to begin working at DC SCORES as a Coach Across America AmeriCorps volunteer. Zach has a passion for working with youth, and as part of his work with DC SCORES is coaching poetry and girls soccer at Lincoln Middle School. Throughout the season, Zach will share his experience as one of DC SCORES’ 190 coaches who run the program at our 47 schools. Zach will provide insight on the impact of DC SCORES -- through the eyes of a coach. 

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Written by Zachary Gomes 
Soccer Coordinator 

I did it again.

I showed up at Lincoln full of energy on Dec. 3 ready for the Poetry Slam!. I met the kids in the auditorium at 3:15 p.m. and immediately started urging them onto the stage. I had no patience. The Slam! was going to begin in less than two hours! In two hours, kids from 20 schools would be in the Lincoln auditorium and we had a limited amount of time to perfect our poems and performance.

“Lets go guys! Get on the stage! We don’t have much time! Soon this auditorium is going to be filled with hundreds of people!”

I had done it again.

I had let my nerves get the best of me and I had projected my own anxieties onto the kids. My urgency had freaked them out.

After our first run-through of the poems (which didn’t go so great), I decided to give the kids a pep-talk behind stage. I walked over to the girls team first and started what I thought was an encouraging speech. Madaline G., an eighth-grader, stopped me in the middle of my “awesome” pump-up speech and reminded me, “Coach, you know when you act like this you just make us more nervous, right?”

And just like that, I knew it was time to slow down. I brought the girls and boys teams together and took a knee. I told them I was sorry for my crazy urgent attitude and asked them to take three deep breathes with me. I had been going about it all wrong and once again the kids had put me in check.

I wish I could say everything went smoothly after this calming moment, but there was still more to come.

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After speaking with the team, I decided we no longer needed to practice on stage. We all went to the cafeteria to eat some pizza and relax before the show. If the kids wanted to practice again, I would let them. However, I was done asking them. They were ready.

At 3:55, I began getting nervous (again). The pizza I had ordered was supposed to have arrived 10 minutes ago, the show was starting in an hour and the kids were getting restless.

By 4:10, after several phone calls with the pizza shop, I came to the realization the pizza wasn’t coming. The kids had figured this out also.

“Oh no. This is not good.” That’s what was going through my head. The Poetry Slam! is three hours long and if I don’t feed these kids I’m done for!

At 4:25, I decided to run out of the school and find food. The Poetry Slam! was 30 minutes away, and I was running around Columbia Heights in dress shoes with a purple polka-dot bow tie on trying to find enough food to feed almost 40 kids!

With some luck and help from Pete’s New Haven Pizza, I got back to the school in 15 minutes with enough artisan pizza and French fries to make the team happy.

They rehearsed one more time before we ate and although there were some small arguments between the girls and boys teams over who performed their poems better and slight confusion concerning our choreography, it went very well.

It was time to perform under the bright lights.

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Right before Lincoln's turn to perform, as we all waited on the side of the stage, I saw their faces change. I realized they were ready and that if they had not realized what the Poetry Slam! meant before, they understood now.

The same excitement and nerves I saw in kids' eyes right before a soccer game were present again as they waited to take the stage. I don’t know why I ever worried for them in the first place.

They preformed magnificently, and just like that it was done.

Lincoln has always been a powerhouse when it comes to soccer, but poetry had historically been a struggle. With help from the boys soccer coach, Popsie Lewis, and the help of volunteer poetry coach Morgan Kaufmann and the wonderful Ana G. (a DC SCORES alumna I mentioned in Blog IV) we had been able to create a team culture that understood the importance of both the soccer and poetry aspects of DC SCORES and had created a space that allowed for the kids to better recognize what great poets they were.

The first award handed out at the completion of the night is called the Middle School Shine Award. It is awarded to the student who delivers their solo poem with poise, projection and confidence.

Madalin G., the girl who reminded me that my actions were just making the team more nervous, was our solo poet. She is quite a remarkable writer. Due to a scheduling conflict, she had been unable to make our first four poetry sessions. When she showed up to her first class, she handed me a bunch of pieces of loose leaf paper with writing all over them. She told me, “Sorry for missing class. I wrote a bunch of poems though. Here.”

When I asked her to perform a solo poem, she jumped at the opportunity. She worked hard and created a little masterpiece called “Steps.”

Steps 
My journey begins with a single step
Can you believe that one dream can change your reality
And one lyric can change your meaning of life
As Willy Wonka once said, we are the writers of music and the dreamers of dreams
One dream a million of possibilities
One life a million dreams
My steps are my memories and my memories are my history
From baby steps to
Becoming Bigfoot
From one inch
To a mile
From a water bottle
To an entire ocean
What are you a part of
What do you help make?

I love this poem. “From baby steps to becoming Bigfoot.” Madelin’s poem beautifully exemplifies how we are all a part of something bigger. We are individuals who are part of a team, who live within a community, which is a part of a country, that is a part of the world.

Madelin won the shine award and I couldn’t have been more proud.

It didn't end there. Lincoln got second place overall in the middle schools category!

They had done it. I think they had exceeded even their own expectations.

The kids were proud of themselves. I told them all season that we could do it. I told them all season “I know we can win the Poetry Slam!”

We didn’t win first place, but all the kids left knowing they could have and they were all proud of their performance. That’s as good as it gets.

Teamwork, leadership, commitment (and much more) on display at Eastside Poetry Slam!

(See our first-look Eastside Poetry Slam! photo album HERE; Storify HERE.)

"We good in school/ that's the No. 1 rule/ TLC be cool."

That line came from Miner Elementary School, the first of 20 schools to perform at the DC SCORES Eastside Poetry Slam! Thursday. It set the tone for a special night.

During an inspiring, captivating, often hilarious, and often courageous three hours at H.D. Woodson High School, DC SCORES teams could not have better demonstrated the Teamwork, Leadership and Commitment -- SCORES' core values -- that's instilled during the fall season.

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Teamwork.

There was Aiton Elementary School on stage, clapping and stomping in perfect unison as one student after another approached the microphone to describe why they're a survivor.

I’m a survivor because I never give up
I’m a survivor because I’m a strong young man
I’m a survivor because I keep a cool head
I’m a survivor because I reach for the Stars
I’m a survivor because I have faith
I’m a survivor because I don’t criticize, I exercise


That was just a small piece of Aiton's Golden Mic-winning performance, which the Bears rightfully celebrated by rushing the stage to hoist the large trophy. The celebration is surely continuing in the school's halls today.

There was Drew Elementary, the school that burst on the scene in its first Poetry Slam! by claiming the Golden Mic a year ago. When a school joins DC SCORES, there's always the question of how quickly the kids will buy into the spoken word and self-expression component of the program. At Drew, that's never been an issue.

Drew began its second-place-winning show with a step-dance routine, before a kid interrupted to say, "That's OLD SCHOOL, we did that last year!" It was just part of a beautifully synchronized and choreographed performance that began with a poem about hot pink, ended with a solo "About Me" poem -- just one type of poem kids learn during the fall -- and included this in the middle:

You Know 
You know I am the best, because I always try on tests
You know I am a winner, because I eat healthy dinners
You know I am a king, because I always help my team
You know I am a star, can't you see me from afar?
You know I am intelligent, aren't my DC-CAS scores relevant?
You know I am the greatest, because I strive to be the greatest



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Leadership.

Much like on the soccer field, DC SCORES poetry teams need leaders -- kids who will take ownership of the team, help others, and when the Slam! arrives, often perform the solo poem.

The near-capacity crowd at H.D. Woodson was loud and boisterous all night. There were hoots, hollers, loads of encouragement, and plenty of laughs.

It could have been seemed an intimidating environment, especially for a kid all alone under the lights. But that was never the case, and this was best exemplified by Leron B.'s Shine Award-winning poem, "Freedom Isn't Free." Imagine Hope Charter School was the second-to-last school to perform during a long night, but Leron kept the crowd captivated.

People are being held back, held down.
Let people express themselves instead of frown
Have their dreams and be who they are...
Shouldn't everyone be a star?
Freedom isn't Free!

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Commitment.


Middle schools that perform in the DC SCORES Poetry Slam! have an added challenge.

Not only are they tasked with performing three poems in front of hundreds of people; they have to produce their spoken word pieces to music. Getting the timing and rhythm down -- and incorporating everyone -- is a big challenge.

KIPP AIM has mastered it.

The middle schoolers in their orange soccer uniforms might have even upped their Golden Mic-winning performance from a year ago with a committed, nonstop entertaining show that had many in the audience singing along.

First they did a remix of J. Cole's "Got me up all night," inserting their own lyrics.

Got me up all night, trying to get these A's tho
GOT ME Up all night, all I'm doing is learning

Then, after William T. invoked Frederick Douglass in a solo poem, KIPP AIM brought down the house with remixes of the current hit song "Lifestyle" and the forever classic "Man in the Mirror."

You're looking at the kids going to college
We’re going to achieve our dreams
And No Mission Could be
Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The hood A Better Place
you gotta pick up your bags and go to school

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From Miner's opening to Kelly Miller Middle School's closing, there was no dropoff during the three-hour Poetry Slam!. Emcee Charity Blackwell had the large crowd's attention from the get-go, DJ RBI had kids dancing in their seats in between (and even during) every performance, and the dance contest while scores were being tallied got so loud, eardrums popped.

Each great performance helped inspire the next. It might have been Thomas Elementary's first Slam!, but like Drew last year, the Tigers matched the competition and had many of the night's best lines, including, "When I'm president, my phone's gonna be blowing up!" Thomas finished in third place in an incredibly competitive field.


And just like every other school, they demonstrated that TLC that shined on stage throughout the evening.

Below is the full list of winners from the second night of the 17th Annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam!.

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Elementary Schools
1st place — Aiton Elementary School
2nd place — Drew Elementary
3rd place — Thomas Elementary
School Spirit Award — J.C. Nalle Elementary
Shine Award — Leroy B., Imagine Hope Community Charter - Tolson Campus

Middle Schools
1st place — KIPP AIM
2nd place — Chavez Parkside
3rd place — Kelly Miller Middle School
Spirit Award — Johnson Middle

Teamwork on full display during Westside DC SCORES Poetry Slam!

KIPP WILL won the Golden Mic trophy in its first Poetry Slam!.

As the winners of Wednesday night's Westside DC SCORES Poetry Slam! were announced, emcee Charity Blackwell repeatedly asked for just team captains and coaches of schools to come to the stage and receive their trophies.

Yet team after team brought dozens of kids, all running down the aisles and up onto the stage to receive the hardware from special guests Briana Scurry and Ben Olsen.

At the culminating event of the fall DC SCORES season, it was clearer than ever how strong and together the 20 schools' teams of poet-athletes are. Kids didn't want to leave their peers behind. Whether winning the Spirit Award or first place, they made sure to celebrate together.

And what a celebration the Poetry Slam! was. In front of a standing-room-only audience inside Columbia Heights Education Campus' auditorium, one school after another demonstrated the fruits of 12 weeks of writing labor.

Great lines ranged from issue-driven ("We are not criminals and our schools are secure enough without them." — H.D. Cooke) to commanding ("Quit, we don't quit. Quit. Never heard of it." — Garrison) to funny ("So lock your door; slam, click, ahhhhhhh," repeated Raymond's kids with faces painted to look like zombies).

All lines were accompanied by movements, hand gestures and props. Whether it was a small team on stage or Lincoln Middle School's team of close to 40, every kid knew where to be throughout the night.

It was the result of a 12-week curriculum that began in September with kids learning the basic structure of a poem, was followed by many writing sessions, and concluded with performance-technique lessons and, of course, plenty of practice.

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LaSalle Backus EC was one of three schools that performed at the Poetry Slam! for the first time.

The winning schools spanned the spectrum of DC SCORES' 20-year history and 17 years of hosting now DC's largest youth Poetry Slam!.

There was flagship school Marie Reed, decked out in their customary orange soccer uniforms, putting together a strong performance about being yourself and not wavering to win the elementary school Golden Mic trophy.

The Reed kids concluded their performance by taking up every square foot of the stage and holding up about 20 signs representing the countries the students' families are from. "So many cultures in one place can surely brighten your day," everyone said in unison.

And then there was KIPP WILL, a school that had DC SCORES writing for the first time this fall but looked far from nervous under the bright lights. KIPP's performance about love and freedom — highlighted by Jordan S.' poignant poem about learning from his grandmother — won them the middle school Golden Mic trophy.

Marie Reed won the Golden Mic trophy in its 17th Poetry Slam!.

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Councilmember David Grosso got the night started!

After emcees Charity and Cortney Hicks kicked off the Slam!, special guest Councilmember David Grosso took the stage and read a poem by Langston Hughes. An innovator like Hughes would've been proud of the creativity and spoken word that captivated the capacity audience for three hours Wednesday night.

As we have documented with our blog series on Brightwood Education Campus, there are many steps taken to get to this point. So it was no surprise that when kids ran up the aisles to receive those gleaming trophies from Scurry (the World Cup-winning and Olympic-gold earning goalkeeper) and Olsen (who was named Major League Soccer's coach of the year Wednesday), emotions were high.

When Jency, a girl from Barnard Elementary School, won the Shine Award for best individual performance, she was overcome by the moment and cried tears of joy as Olsen gave her a big hug. A minute later, there were more tears as Brightwood received the second-place award. 

And then the entire Marie Reed team took the stage, raised up the large and heavy Golden Mic trophy, and capped off a night that demonstrated the power of teamwork — not just on a soccer field, but on stage, too.

Below is the full list of winners from the first night of the 17th Annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam!. 

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Elementary Schools 
1st place — Marie Reed Elementary School
2nd place — Brightwood Education Campus
3rd place — Seaton Elementary
School Spirit Award — Truesdell Education Campus
Shine Award — Jency. M, Barnard

Middle Schools 
1st place — KIPP WILL
2nd place — Lincoln Middle School
3rd place — Truesdell Education Campus
Spirit Award — Chavez Prep
Shine Award — Madelin G., Lincoln

The Power of Poetry at Brightwood, Part VIII: The final steps

This fall, DC SCORES Digital Media Intern Paris Volpe is attending the after-school poetry sessions at Brightwood Education Campus (Elementary School) to observe how the Panthers discover "The Power of Poetry." Each week, Paris is writing about the curriculum and lesson plans of the program. Follow as she documents the progression of the students’ self-expression and writing techniques. You can also follow Paris' experiences on Twitter by following @DCSCORESinterns and view photos on Flickr.

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Written by Paris Volpe 
Digital Media Intern

Twas the night before The Poetry Slam!, when all through the halls
The students were practicing, standing strong and tall
Their journals were stacked, on the desks with care,
Waiting for tomorrow with poems to share

The children are excited and ready to go,
Tomorrow’s the day! It’ll be quite the show.
DC SCORES coaches and teachers alike,
Will settle their brains and hand over the mic.

I watch as the Brightwood Panthers take the stage for their final rehearsal. They have made much progress since last week.

Although the Panthers have practiced multiple times, they haven’t lost their excitement. And even though the students have heard the individual poem many times, they still watch intently when Betelihem G., age 10, takes the stage.

“I still well up hearing her poem,” Coach Rosenberg says.

Betelihem wrote a very personal poem to perform at today’s Poetry Slam!. She worked closely with Coach Nelson and Rosenberg from the beginning of the season.

“I can’t wait for everyone to hear it, especially since it will be a surprise,” Betelihem says.

“Shoutout to Betelihem and her poem,” says Makensie T., age 8, after rehearsal. “I just think it’s fantastic.”

All of the Panthers have continuously supported each other on this journey. Even those who like to goof around are in it to win it. Not only are coaches instructing, but now students are teaching one another.

In between practice rounds, students chatter about where they should stand, where to look, how to annunciate. They want to be sure to “wow” the audience.

“Can you hear us from the back of the room?” Fatiya H., age 10, asks me. The answer is yes! Yes, I can. This is important, because at the Slam!, students’ voices will need to reach the back of the auditorium (with the help of a microphone, of course).

The Westside Poetry Slam! is TODAY, Dec. 3, at 5pm at Columbia Heights Education Campus. Come see Brightwood (and 19 other schools) in action. The Panthers will show you what they’ve got!

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Westside DC SCORES Poetry Slam!

• WHEN: Tonight, Dec. 3, 5-8pm (come anytime)
• WHERE: Columbia Heights Education Campus
• WHAT: The first night of DC SCORES' premier and culminating event of the fall season. Watch 20 schools perform their original works of self-expression on stage. More info HERE. 

Watch YouTube videos of past Poetry Slam! performances HERE.

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Related posts
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII

Giving Tuesday: Your chance to empower DC youth

-- Empower DC youth TODAY, Dec. 2!

What is the meaning of a soccer uniform? What about a poetry journal?

A soccer uniform might just seem like some articles of clothing. A journal -- something you find in Staples.

For kids in DC SCORES, they mean so much more.

A soccer uniform represents a team, a chance to be accepted, an opportunity to develop into a leader -- all things that wouldn't be possible for thousands of kids without DC SCORES.

A journal gives kids a safe space to express their innermost feelings, to feel empowered to be creative and speak out about their lives. Armed with a journal, kids in DC SCORES come out of their shells and show the world just how talented they are. Their schoolwork improves, too.

TODAY is Giving Tuesday, the largest worldwide day of giving. Please consider giving a kid like Anna Lucia, or Nana or Kennijah a chance with a gift to DC SCORES.

• $28 = a soccer uniform and poetry notebook for a child
• $51 = a soccer uniform for one girl and one boy
• $121 = writing supplies for a whole team of 32 children

Please help us reach our 24-hour goal of $22,500, which equals equipping 803 kids with a soccer uniform and poetry journal!

Throughout the 24 hours, we will update in real time those who provide a soccer uniform/journal combination and we'll keep track. below. THANK YOU!

#GivingTuesday uniforms/journals provided (updated as given): 793

DC SCORES High Fives list, time given
Carol Roberts & Steve Larson, 1:51pm
Mary Rumford, 8am
Aeon Clarke, 3:17pm
Paul and Nancy Kemp, 2:05pm
Jean Counts, 8:37am
Mary Watkins / Reuben Johnson, 7:17pm
Larry Schwartzman, 4:48pm
Myrna Alphonse Newman, 10:43pm
Steve Petros, 8:48pm
Maurice Gilmore, 6:04pm
Gregory Kalik, 3:26pm
Brenden Owen, 12:32pm
Tom Hyde, 11:34am
Jun Yoshino, 11:06am
Matt Landau, 8:09am
Jess Morrison, 12:49am
Katherine Hayden, 12:01am
Mired Asfour, 11:52pm
Mariangela Anzalone, 11:51pm
Lauren Jackson, 11:50pm
Wendy Copeland and Jon Schwartz, 11:47pm
Stephen Bowman, 11:47pm
Marla Simon, 11:39pm
Madeline Harrington, 11:36pm
Alper Tunca, 11:08pm
John Pascazio, 11:01pm
Amy Lehman, 10:50pm
Willie, 10:48pm
Michael Parrish, 10:41pm
Don and Becky Feltman, 10:31pm
Marlon Brown, 10:14pm
Jaimie Gomes, 10:01pm
manny and susan, 9:56pm
Lauren, 9:54pm
John Kemp, 9:44pm
Anonymous, 9:44pm
Sally and Paulo Villela, 9:41pm
Moley Evans, 9:33pm
Anonymous, 9:20pm
Santano Rosario, 9:15pm
Gregory Jenkins, 9:06pm
Avery Lord, 8:56pm
Christina Tunison, 8:51pm
Cielo Contreras, 8:48pm
Beth Powell, 8:40pm
Jason S Alansky, 8:32pm
Jason Washington, 8:30pm
Lia E Dawley, 8:10pm
Carolyn Price- Valenti, 8pm
Anonymous, 7:54pm
Mozella Ademiluyim, 7:52pm
Brent Councill, 7:34pm
David Goodwin, 7:33pm
Megan Corey, 7:32pm
Hannah Estifanos, 7:17pm
Bill Farrell, 7:07pm
Matt Charny, 6:55pm
Chester F. Peixoto, 6:53pm
Brian Argrett, 6:51pm
Anonymous, 6:45pm
Abigail Lauer, 6:44pm
Anonymous, 6:44pm
Daniel Vladimer, 6:41pm
Ashley Vierra, 6:30pm
Jay, 6:28pm
Kent and Kathy Replogle, 6:18pm
Gretchen Ellsworth, 6:14pm
Robert G. Cantelmo, 6:09pm
Rob and Anne Hummel, 6pm
Dane Bernard, 6pm
Jeff Schwartz, 5:59pm
Libby Watkins, 5:55pm
Phyllis Owens, 5:53pm
Anonymous, 5:51pm
Lindsey Baker, 5:48pm
Allie Dodd, 5:48pm
Lisa Tabaku, 5:35pm
Emily Weidenbach, 5:34pm
Gregory Baisley, 5:29pm
Dawn K Hulen, 5:27pm
Keiko Yoshino, 5:24pm
Betty Schulman, 5:21pm
Jenna Kruse, 5:19pm
Matt Gwizdala, 5:18pm
Cole Hinnen, 5:13pm
Brian Williams, 5:10pm
Tamar Levenberg, 5:08pm
Sarah Wolf, 5:04pm
Dane Hinnen, 5:03pm
Anonymous, 5:03pm
John Guinan, 5pm
Andrew W. Mollohan, 5pm
Joshua Freedholm, 4:55pm
Daniel Meloy, 4:55pm
Stephen Aporta, 4:54pm
Adam Rubinfield, 4:53pm
Dan Roche, 4:53pm
Rachel Klepper, 4:52pm
Heidi Hochstetler, 4:50pm
Zaryn Jennings, 4:50pm
Paris Volpe, 4:50pm
Kara Dunford, 4:48pm
George Gorleku, 4:48pm
Tim Spear, 4:45pm
Erica J. Johnson, 4:41pm
Zachary Gomes, 4:39pm
Golden Goal Sports Complex, 4:38pm
Jake Lloyd, 4:38pm
Radu Marcu, 4:37pm
Alyssa Morse, 4:34pm
Julie Rogers, 4:34pm
Anonymous, 4:32pm
Brandon Balthrop, 4:30pm
Jack Reagan, 4:23pm
Anonymous, 4:23pm
Alexander Lord, 4:22pm
David Freedholm, 4:20pm
David Sheon, 4:18pm
Corey Timbers, 4:18pm
Stuart Trevelyan, 4:18pm
Carlos & Adriana Fonseca, 4:18pm
Jennifer Olney, 4:17pm
Launa Hochstetler, 4:17pm
Daniel Levine, 4:16pm
Amanda Villela, 4:15pm
Richard Washington, 4:10pm
Daniel Meloy, 4:10pm
Conor McCormick, 4:09pm
Amy Nakamoto, 4:08pm
Jordan Evans, 4:08pm
Lyndsey & Chelsie Miller-Vierra, 4:06pm
Karen Lloyd, 4:05pm
Omar Lewis, 4:05pm
Cal Klausner, 4:03pm
Rebecca Freedholm, 4:03pm
Steve Goodman, 4:02pm
Jessica Trevelyan, 4:02pm
Alyson Blair, 4:01pm
Sue Falsone, 3:57pm
Missy Ryan, 3:57pm
Brian Yi, 3:56pm
Corey Edwards, 3:51pm
Alex Paley, 3:31pm
Don Plank, 3:30pm
Maggie Riden, 3:27pm
Tracey Rutnik, 3:25pm
Aaron Wodin-Schwartz, 3:23pm
Anonymous, 3:23pm
Pie Fection, 3:12pm
The Vaughns, 3:11pm
Cassandra Kingsberry, 3:09pm
Tiffany Hill, 2:57pm
Catherine E Gatewood, 2:55pm
Elizabeth Johnson, 2:52pm
Linda R Munich, 2:46pm
Blaine Wiltse, 2:43pm
Phillip Knight, 2:41pm
Lily Goldstein, 2:40pm
hayne chun, 2:35pm
Heather, 2:30pm
Nicole Allinson, 2:29pm
Sebastiao & Roseli Fonseca, 2:24pm
Tracy Lyman, 2:20pm
Holly S Galavotti, 2:12pm
Anonymous, 2:10pm
Joshua McGee, 2:08pm
Nicholas Kessler, 2:08pm
Mike Kuzia-Carmel, 2:06pm
Ayan Rubin, 2:02pm
Patricia Granados, 1:50pm
Robert Watkins, 1:48pm
Pete Gilmore, 1:48pm
Jonathan and Shanda Boreyko, 1:45pm
Patricia Little, 1:44pm
Son Hong, 1:41pm
Sara Harper, 1:40pm
Patricia Farrell, 1:33pm
Jose Barbosa, 1:29pm
Kyler Smart, 1:05pm
Drew Harrison, 12:56pm
Roger K Alexander, 12:54pm
Tim Gillespie, 12:50pm
Melissa Duncan, 12:48pm
Margaretta Poku-Adjei, 12:47pm
Aeon Clarke, 12:46pm
Kenny and Katrina Owens, 12:45pm
Mike Voight, 12:41pm
Emily Schulman, 12:39pm
Jessica Painchaud, 12:37pm
John and Lynn, 12:36pm
Anthony Francavilla, 12:29pm
Don Hill, 12:29pm
Ed Walters, 12:25pm
Alice James, 12:22pm
Bryan Stephany, 12:20pm
Kevin Keefe, 12:13pm
Joanna Smith, 12:08pm
Barton N Bishop, 12:02pm
Cheryl Opere, 12pm
Jeffrey Goldfarb, 12pm
Teresa P. Miller, 11:59am
Mauricio Rodriguez, 11:59am
Alissa Fromkin, 11:58am
David Crespo, 11:57am
David Hidalgo, 11:54am
Justin Feltman, 11:52am
Allen, 11:48am
Janelle Leuthaeuser, 11:47am
Ralph Pace, 11:45am
John Akers, 11:32am
Matt Leemhuis, 11:32am
Doug Kotlove, 11:30am
Rachael Levine, 11:30am
Anne OConnell, 11:26am
Simon Landau, 11:25am
Fairbanks family, 11:22am
Nick Amabile, 11:19am
Joseph Swierzowski, 11:16am
Alex Brooks, 11:13am
Elaine Amabile, 11:04am
Alice Speck, 10:59am
Joe Matzner, 10:55am
Andrew Philip Maddocks, 10:50am
Emily Wander, 10:48am
Daniel Henderson, 10:40am
Stephen Replogle, 10:37am
Devon Owen, 10:33am
Anonymous, 10:31am
Sara Fornaciari, 10:27am
Tim & Kathy Hinkle, 10:26am
James Armold, 10:26am
Stephanie Lutz, 10:25am
John Conte, 10:17am
Chuck Wolf, 10:17am
Anonymous, 10:15am
Adam Cristman, 10:13am
Iris Bond Gill, 10:13am
Deeana Klepper, 10:09am
Chuky Nwaochei, 10:05am
Allison, 10:01am
Ryan Burke, 10am
Lauren Bogard, 9:56am
Chefik, 9:53am
Kim and John Casey, 9:52am
Mark Albert Hanis, 9:52am
Sharon Plonsker, 9:47am
Frank Polley, 9:34am
John Carmel, 9:34am
Wendy LeBolt, 9:32am
Joseph Scialdo, 9:31am
John Lloyd and Sue Budin, 9:29am
Anusha Rouse, 9:25am
Connie Lindenauer, 9:22am
Nancy Kemp, 9:18am
Karen Lovitch, 9:16am
John Neiswander, 9:15am
Hannah Wenzel Krieger, 8:51am
Bryan Hinkle, 8:47am
Grant Czubinski, 8:46am
Will Magioncalda, 8:32am
Andrea Custis, 8:27am
Anthony Francavilla, 8:19am
Sam Jaraiedi, 7:57am
Liberty Farrell, 7:37am
The Rockoff Family, 6:30am
Kelly Dragelin, 5:14am
Alanna Sobel, 1:47am
Amir Taba, 12:52am
Judith Kemp, pre-December 2
Donahue family, pre-December 2
Ruth Hershberger, pre-December 2
Tom, pre-December 2
Amy Gambrill, pre-December 2
Jessica Garchik, pre-December 2
Anthony Rodell, pre-December 2
David K. Owens, pre-December 2
Joanne Farrell, pre-December 2
Brian T. Nakamoto, pre-December 2
Ryan McGonigle, pre-December 2
Veronica Nolan, pre-December 2
Lauralyn Lynn, pre-December 2
Edwin D. Washington, pre-December 2
Patricia Farrell and Robert G. Watkins, pre-December 2
Joanna Farrell, pre-December 2
Darryl Anderson, pre-December 2
Aya Takeuchi, pre-December 2

Tomorrow is THE DAY: Give a kid a chance on Giving Tuesday

We hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving. And Black Friday. And, today, Cyber Monday.

Tomorrow is our turn -- along with thousands, maybe even millions, of nonprofits worldwide.

Giving Tuesday.

Giving Tuesday is THE DAY to make a real impact with a simple gift. Whatever nonprofit(s) you support, you'll change lives, help create change, and feel the power of giving.

It's similar, really, to what DC SCORES does. We build teams at schools in underserved communities for kids who would otherwise be left on the sideline. We empower kids to become leaders, to recognize the power of teamwork, and to discover what their commitment can lead to in a safe and supportive environment.

Kennijah, Anna Lucia and Nana are three examples of how powerful providing a soccer uniform and a poetry journal -- the material essentials for a DC SCORES child -- is through our program.

$28 tomorrow = a soccer uniform and poetry journal for a kid currently on the sideline

Please give HERE and share your gift on our Facebook event page or on Twitter.

But first, we hope you're inspired by these three stories

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KENNIJAH

"Before DC SCORES, Kennijah was extremely meek. He didn't know how to find himself. He was having an identity crisis." – Kennijah’s Mother

Kennijah participated in sports, but he didn't find an activity that he truly loved and that kept his attention -- and improved his academics -- until he began writing poetry twice a week at Arts and Technology Academy.

A majority of DC SCORES participants join our program because of the soccer element, knowing little, if anything, about poetry. For many of them, there's an initial shock and frustration when they learn they can't play soccer without coming to poetry sessions, too.

But for many kids, like Kennijah, they learn the power of expressing themselves and getting out their innermost feelings through poetry.

"But when he got into DC SCORES it was like BAM, wow, this is what it is. This is it. This is what I love. – Kennijah’s Mother

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ANNA LUCIA

"It provided her a sense of community and belonging and fun that as a parent you can't always provide your kid." -- Anna Lucia’s Mother

When Anna Lucia moved to Washington, DC, with her mother and enrolled at Bancroft Elementary School, she had no friends, she didn't have a sense of belonging, she felt out of place.

Then she joined DC SCORES.

Anna Lucia was welcomed by her peers and the Bancroft coaches. She was supported on the soccer field and in the classroom. She was accepted.

It didn't take long for Anna Lucia to transform from a shy kid into one of the team's most vocal leaders, her voice always heard and respected by her peers.

"Anna was a totally shy kid in third grade. Now in fifth grade she is totally social and opened up completely." -- Coach John Guzman

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NANA

"When Nana arrived at Brightwood, he was a very troubled kid, very anxious, very angry. He could not articulate what was going on with him." -- Brightwood Education Campus Principal Wanda Fox

Nana, who immigrated from Ghana, was a troublemaker when he arrived at Brightwood Education Campus, a hard-headed kid who got into trouble often. He didn't know how to express his frustrations and had no structure in his life.

But he was very good at soccer.

DC SCORES provided him with an outlet, an opportunity to safely express himself and play the sport he loved.

After graduating from Brightwood, Nana enrolled at Wilson High School and played varsity soccer. He realized he wouldn't have reached that level without DC SCORES, and so he began volunteering at summer camp to help mentor kids like him in need of direction.

Nana is now a freshman college soccer player at Johnson State University. Read Nana's full story HERE.

"If I didn't have DC SCORES, it wouldn't be the same. I feel like DC SCORES is a part of my family." -- Nana

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We hope you'll empower DC youth on Giving Tuesday and spread the word to other, too. Thanks so much for your support!