Lincoln Middle School students visit White House, ask questions of pro soccer players

Written by Zach Gomes
Soccer Coordinator and Lincoln Middle School coach

The DC SCORES Lincoln Middle School Knights got to meet the MLS Champion, LA Galaxy, and NHL Champion, LA Kings, — and we got to do it at the White House!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I was informed that the White House wanted to invite around 30 middle school-aged kids to join the Galaxy for their championship presentation and, possibly, a soccer clinic. The Lincoln Knights were a perfect fit, so it was decided that we were going.

It takes a lot of work to get 30 kids to the White House. It involves permission slips and a lot of other data collection. After all, the White House isn’t your everyday field trip.

With help from Ms. Pugh (the DC SCORES champion at Lincoln) and my colleagues, we began planning for the trip. I couldn’t have been more excited. I had wanted to bring the kids on a field trip since day one as their coach in the fall, and to finally be going somewhere was awesome; the fact it was the White House was icing on the cake.

I was flabbergasted at the response from some of the kids when I told them we had been selected to go to the White House.

Me: “We’re going to the White House next week, guys!”

Student: “Why?” (Unenthusiastically)

Me: “Why!? Why does it matter!? It’s the White House, people!”

Student: “Hmmmm okay. Well do we get to miss class?”

Me: “Well yes … but that’s not the point! It’s the White House!”

I couldn’t believe some of the kids, but I got over it. After all, they’re kids.

My colleagues and I got all the paperwork in on time. We would go to the White House on Monday.

The Friday night before our trip, I got a call from Soccer Program Manager Carlos Fonseca. Carlos had good news and bad news.

Bad news: The clinic on the White House lawn is canceled!

(My mind at this point: ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! NOOOO!!!)

Good news: We are still going to the White House and we are going to watch President Obama congratulate both teams.

(My mind at this point: ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!! YESSSSS!!!!)

Monday came and I wore my best suit (my only suit) and headed to Lincoln to get the kids ready.

We got to the White House right on time and made it through security and into the White House’s East wing (not a bad-looking house).

The students and I were led into a packed room filled with cameras and fancy people. After a little while, the Kings and Galaxy entered the room and filled up the stage. Soon after that, there was an announcement: “And now the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.”

I looked over at the kids. Finally, they were impressed. If only the President could be present at all my classes and practices.

President Obama congratulated both teams and took some pictures. It was a short celebration, but only the beginning for the kids.

After the President exited the room, the entire Lincoln team was led into another room not far away. There was a stage and several chairs set up. Every chair had a Galaxy jersey, a soccer ball and a Galaxy winter hat on it. The kids loved their new gear.

After putting the jerseys on, the kids participated in a Q & A with some of the pros from both the Galaxy and Kings. The kids asked awesome questions.

“Did anybody ever tell you that you couldn’t make it?”

“How did it feel to score your first goal?”

“What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in a game?”

The kids got their jerseys and soccer balls signed and took some pictures with the pros. As we exited the White House and made our way back to the bus, every kid was beaming.

Katie S., an eighth-grader who has been with DC SCORES for three years, walked up to me as we left and said, “Coach Zach, we are really lucky.”

It was a great experience for every kid involved — something they will be able to talk about for the rest of their lives, long after they outgrow the soccer jersey.

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!

DC SCORES alumni visit White House, learn valuable lessons from high-ranking officials

Written by Cory Chimka
Program Director

“I’m pretty nervous, I don’t know what to expect,” Dennis confessed to me over the telephone Sunday night. I was feeling the same way.  

The next day, DC SCORES Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) workers Dennis, Raul and Christian; DC SCORES Summer Camp Director, Coach Nikki; DC SCORES summer intern Devon; and I were scheduled to participate in the Summer Jobs+ Professional Development Series at the White House.  

Yes, that White House.

We rose before the sun the next day and met up at the East Gate of the White House grounds, laughing timidly, more used to seeing one another in athletic gear than business attire. We began feeling like VIPs immediately as we were hustled to the front of the block-long security line.

We proceeded past a heavy Secret Service presence to the White House Eisenhower Executive office building. The air thick with the ghosts of presidential administrations past, we made our way to the main auditorium where we joined Summer Jobs+ youth and supervisors from around the country, and sat down in silence.

Among a cadre of speakers to begin the workshop was Jonathan McBride, Special Assistant to the President & Director of White House Personnel. He regaled the students with amusing stories from earlier in his career: gaffes, faux pas and botched interviews. Then he told them what it was like to act as “lead talent scout for Barrack Obama,” and what he looks for as he travels the country and world looking for workers with the brass to be White House staff.

After some important  coaching on personal branding from McBride, the students moved to a lecture hall upstairs in the beautiful historic building where they were led through a cover-letter writing workshop with the Director and Deputy Director of White House Correspondence. They learned to make their letters specific; how to highlight their attributes; and to revise, revise, revise.

We crossed the hall, cover letters in hand, and entered a room full of high level executive White House staff. Next we were given multiple mock interviews with these staff members followed by personal one-on-one feedback sessions.  

Christian passed me while rotating between his first and second interview and feedback sessions.  

“How’d it go?” I whispered. Christian grinned.

“I killed it!”  I congratulated him, and wished him luck at the next interviews.

The Summer Jobs+ Professional Development Series at the White House and the VIP tour of the White House’s East Wing that followed it were days none of us will ever forget. We’ll all remember the valuable lessons we learned in each session and carry them with us from school to school and job to job.  

As we walked to the METRO, we all discussed where we planned to hang the glossy autographed photos of the president and his family we were given as we exited the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.  

Thank you, President Obama!

DC SCORES students' visit to White House includes photos with Michelle Obama, Q&A with L.A. Galaxy

Last Tuesday, coach Shannon Nelson and her team of Brightwood poet-athletes got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A trip to the White House.

This was far from an ordinary tour of the President’s residence. The students sat in the same room as Barack Obama. They posed for pictures with First Lady Michelle Obama. And they asked questions of two of the world’s most famous and accomplished soccer players.

All in an afternoon.

The 22 Brightwood students joined students from America SCORES affiliates in Denver and St. Louis as well as children from the District, Houston and Miami who participate in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success program (DC SCORES will begin implementing Soccer for Success in a group of schools next fall) and United for D.C. participants.

Oh, and they were accompanied by the L.A. Galaxy, who were in town to be honored by the president for winning the 2011 Major League Soccer (MLS) title.

The afternoon began with a presentation by Obama to the Galaxy. The students sat in the room, just rows of folding chairs from the President of the United States as he spoke about David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the team’s exploits.

Minutes later, the president had other matters to attend to -- imagine that! -- but the students’ afternoon at the White House was far from over. They were escorted to a side room for a special photo shoot.

Now getting your picture taken inside the White House is pretty cool to begin with, but it holds a little more cache -- OK, a lot -- when it’s taken with the First Lady. That’s right -- Michelle Obama, who is the face and leader of the Let’s Move initiative to curb the unsettling childhood obesity trend, chatted with students and posed for pictures.

The students’ beaming faces said it all -- they couldn’t believe what they were doing. Awe is the best word to describe it.

If they were in awe at that moment, just minutes later they were in heaven. Brightwood’s poet-athletes are extremely passionate about soccer. There’s a reason they’re playing in both elementary school semifinal games this week. They LOVE to practice and play.

Thus, the chance to ask the likes of Donovan, Beckham and other Galaxy players questions about their soccer careers had them almost in a tizzy. After they listened to the First Lady talk about the importance of living healthy lifestyles with the final message of “Eat your vegetables!,” she opened up the floor to the young soccer players to ask their idols some questions.

The inquiries ran the gamut. From the serious ...

“Is it hard to play soccer and be a professional?”

“What inspired you to play soccer?”

“Do you inspire kids to be the best?”

To the inquisitive…

“I’m a Madrid fan,” stated a young boy. “Why did you move from Madrid?”

“Is it any kind of food you like to eat before the game?”

And, from a St. Louis poet-athlete to Beckham: “What did it take for you to become the man you are today?”

The professionals enjoyed the 30-minute back-and-forth and gave great advice to the young players, including Donovan talking about the importance of knowing the foods you’re putting in your body and the effect they will have on your athletic performance.

When the session was over -- and the students had all received autographs from the soccer stars -- so too was an action-packed, celebrity-filled day at the White House for Brightwood’s poet-athletes and their new friends from Denver and St. Louis.

And while they’ll likely be trying to bend it like Beckham for days, they also took several lessons from their visit.

From the First Lady’s message about “learning to lose,” to Donovan’s words about learning to take care of themselves, the students won’t soon forget their memorable day and the words their heroes bestowed upon them.

See video from the poet-athletes’ Q&A session with the L.A. Galaxy.
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DC SCORES students to visit White House with L.A. Galaxy Tuesday

Next Tuesday, DC SCORES poet-athletes from Brightwood Education Campus will live out what for most of us is only ever a dream when they get to hang out with professional soccer players.

Oh, and one other guy.

The President of the United States.

The students will join America SCORES students from our affiliates in St. Louis and Denver for a visit to the White House with the MLS champion Galaxy. Following President Obama’s opening remarks, the students will head out to the South Lawn with the First Lady, Michelle Obama, for a ‘Let’s Move’ soccer clinic.

See the details below from the White House’s official press release.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2012

President Obama to Honor MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy at The White House, First Lady to Host Let’s Move! Soccer Clinic with Players and Schoolchildren

WASHINGTON--On Tuesday, May 15, President Obama will welcome Major League Soccer champions, the LA Galaxy to the White House to honor their 2011 season and their MLS Cup victory.  This visit will also continue the tradition begun by President Obama of honoring sports teams for their efforts to give back to communities as part of their trip to Washington.

Following the ceremony, LA Galaxy players will join the First Lady to hold a Let’s Move! soccer clinic on the South Lawn for students from schools across the country.  The children participating come from Soccer for Success programs in DC, Houston and Miami and America SCORES programs in DC, St. Louis and Denver. The children will also attend the ceremony with President Obama.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, runs the national after-school program Soccer for Success.  Soccer for Success provides children in urban underserved areas with structured physical activity, nutrition education and mentorship, at no cost their families. The youth participants are from Miami, FL, Houston, TX and Washington, DC where the U.S. Soccer Foundation partners with the YMCA of Greater Miami, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and United for D.C. respectively to implement the program in those cities.

America SCORES provides innovative afterschool and summer programming which combine soccer, poetry and spoken word, and service-learning every day for over 24 weeks each year. America SCORES participants receive ten times more exercise than the national average and lower their BMI by 2% by the end of each season. Using soccer as a tool to encourage fitness, sportsmanship, and leadership, America SCORES inspires the life-long appreciation of sports and health-enhancing behaviors like choosing to eat more fruit and vegetables, participating in organized sports and spending less time watching television and playing video games. Each year, America SCORES serves 7,500 students at 150 schools through fourteen affiliates located in major urban centers across the United States. Founded in 1994 in Washington DC, America SCORES grew to a national organization and expanded to Denver in 1999, and again to St. Louis in 2005. Today, DC SCORES serves over 800 low-income DC youth at 27 schools; America SCORES Denver serves 320 poet-athletes at ten West Denver DPS schools; America SCORES St. Louis serves 260 youth at seven schools.