Who's ready for fall? Poetry Slam! jam: Garrison Elementary School

The fall 2014 DC SCORES season begins September 15!

To see images representing all 47 of our program schools, follow us on Instagram @dc_scores for a school-by-school countdown until Opening Day.

On this blog, each week day leading up to the season we'll highlight a school's Poetry Slam! performance from 2013. Just about everyone is familiar with the soccer component of DC SCORES, but the self-expression aspect is just as important. Each fall, all of our 1,500 youth go through a three-month curriculum that culminates in every school performing original works of spoken word at our blockbuster event of the year, the Poetry Slam!.

Watch, be inspired, and mark your calendar for December 3-4, the dates of the 2014 Slam!

SCHOOL: Garrison Elementary School

BEGAN DC SCORES: 2013

FUN POETRY SLAM! LINE: "I like being a kid because I don't have to pay the bills."

Watch Garrison above or here.

View Garrison photos here.

Volunteer spotlight: Jamil Decker, soccer coach at Garrison Elementary School

Each month, DC SCORES highlights a volunteer that has made a significant impact on the program. It would be impossible to give 1,500 students throughout the District the quality programming they receive without the help of our volunteers. To learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.DCSCORES.org.

This month we highlight Jamil Decker, who began with DC SCORES as a soccer referee and is now a coach at Garrison Elementary School. Decker's trajectory shows how quickly you can get deeply involved with DC SCORES by beginning as a volunteer!

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DCS: Where are you from and where are you currently working/studying?

I grew up in Maryland and I work at the Penn Office as a patent examiner.

DCS: How did you get involved with DC SCORES?

I played soccer with a friend who was involved and she told me about the organization. At the time, I was volunteering for another mentoring program and I had some very rewarding experiences with that. DC SCORES has been an even more perfect fit because it suits my love for soccer and it has allowed me to stay involved in the community.

DCS: What inspired you to switch from refereeing to coaching?

I had been refereeing consistently at Garrison Elementary School and at some point in the season I found out that their coach was unable to continue in his role. The school is right down the street from my house so I figured I should take over some of the coaching responsibilities while I was at it. Now I will be their head coach this coming season!

DCS: Describe your most enjoyable experience volunteering for DC SCORES.

Probably the Poetry Slam because I got to see the kids that I work with on the soccer field that are normally reserved go up on stage and perform in front of hundreds of people. It was pretty cool.

DCS: What motivates you to want to volunteer? 

I think that kids need different perspectives and really benefit from spending time with people who grew up in different situations from themselves. Kids are still impressionable and I feel like I can make a bigger difference because of that.

DCS: What are you most excited for this season? 

When I first started coaching we tied a bunch of games, but I am excited because we should have even more kids coming out this season and hopefully we can get some wins.

DCS: What do you like to do with your free time?

I DJ part-time and I play soccer in a bunch of leagues around the city.

DCS: Who is your favorite athlete? 

Probably Deion Sanders. I just remember watching him when I was growing up and seeing his touchdown returns and touchdown dances.

DCS: Who is your favorite singer or poet? 

Outkast

DCS: What is your favorite food?

Chicago deep dish pizza

DCS: Any other interesting information about yourself?

I was in a rap group in college.