We have moved sites!

DC SCORES has a new website to showcase the impact the organization has on the lives of DC kids!

The new site hosts this summer's published blogs and will host all future blog posts written by our staff. This domain will remain as archives for older DC SCORES blog posts dating back to 2009.

Stay updated by checking out the new blog page on the website!

Designing new museums with Clark Construction

Written by Lorena Palacios
Communications Intern
@DCSCORESinterns

(View our 2017 Summer Camps photo album)

L'Enfant Plaza will soon be home to the International Spy Museum, and our Truesdell campers had the opportunity to check out the new site thanks to Clark Construction.

The excited campers spent the first part of their field trip hanging out with a couple of Clark employees that gave some fun facts on the new museum. The kids also learned about other notable buildings in the city that were built by Clark.

The Verizon Center, RFK Stadium, Nationals Park, the National Museum of African American History, and the list continues! All the campers were amazed to learn about all the cool projects Clark has been a part of over the years, which served as inspiration for their fun activity ahead.

Everyone's creative skills were tested with the task of designing unique museum ideas and presenting their final models.

Sports was the big theme as the majority of the groups designed soccer museums.

9-year-old Kiomara was very excited to present her group's National Soccer Museum. "It will include all the best soccer players. Messi! Ronaldo! Maradona!" said the eager camper.

There was, however, one that stood out from the rest with their innovative idea, the National Candy Museum. This concept grabbed everyone's attention, including some of the Clark employees that were big fans of the free candy bag idea.

Next up the kids received a visit from the site's superintendent, who talked to the kids about his responsibilities and what goes into building the new spy museum.

"It was great having the kids out here," said Stephanie Emore, an engineer for Clark. "For those that were here last year, it's nice for them to see how we started from nothing to a full building now."

Finally, is there any other way for DC SCORES to end a fun-filled day than with a soccer game? The Clark employees joined the kids on the field to conclude another great week of summer camp.

Thank you again to our longtime partner and current reigning DC SCORES Cup champions, Clark Construction, for spending the afternoon with the Truesdell campers.

Faces of Summer SCORES: Chris C., a leader on the field

Written by Lorena Palacios

Communications Intern

@DCSCORESInterns

(View our 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

In a soccer field filled with elementary and middle school kids, one stood out in particular. It wasn't just his small size or his impressive touch on the ball that grabbed attention, it was his friendly smile. 

First time camper Chris C., seemed right at home during the two-week soccer camp at Tubman Elementary School. By the second day of camp he made friends with pretty much every camper, coach, and volunteer on the field. 

It was just a matter of time before Chris picked up a nickname from his fellow campers. 

Whenever Chris was on the field you could hear his teammates yelling out "Dybala! Dybala!" This nickname came to life after noticing the similarities between Chris and his favorite soccer player, Paulo Dybala.

It wasn't surprising to see the 9 year-old practicing with the middle school boys by the third day of camp. Despite the difference in heights, Chris' skill level fit right in with the older boys.

The ease Chris has to make friends is thanks to his participation in DC SCORES at Bancroft Elementary School, which is like a second family to him. Every time someone mentions Bancroft, he speaks so fondly of all the school staff, his coach, and his teammates. 

It's hard not to gravitate toward a kid that is so willing to learn and help out his fellow teammates. Chris wasn't one to hesitate to pass the ball to his friends on the field. He always had a cool head during games and was a trusted player by all. 

A true leader on the field. 

That's how Keith Tucker, former Howard University and Bermuda National team head coach, describes Chris. "He's the kind of guy you want on your team. The kind that brings the best out of his teammates," said Tucker. 

This was Chris' first time at a DC SCORES summer camp, but it definitely won't be his last thanks to all the fun memories he made with his new friends and coaches. 

Coming together as a team at Tubman soccer camp

DC SCORES hosted a two-week long soccer camp at Tubman Elementary School. Rising third to ninth grade students participated in this free summer camp from June 26 - July 7.

____________________________

Written by Lorena Palacios
Communications Intern

(View our 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

Over the course of two weeks, kids from all over Washington D.C. got together at Tubman Elementary School for one of three DC SCORES summer camps.

The Tubman Toads' soccer field hosted new campers and coaches, as well as returning participants that love being a part of summer SCORES. During four hours every day, kids had the opportunity to meet new people, practice and improve their soccer skills, and most importantly, have fun.

Throughout the first week of camp, the drills focused on ball control and the skill quality improved every day. It was incredible to see how the kids grew more and more comfortable during games and with their teammates during camp. The level of play within every level increased thanks to the support of the camp coaches.

As much as the campers enjoyed the drills, there was no denying the huge smiles on their faces when they played scrimmages with each other.

From the middle school kids with the most experience to the rising third graders that have never touched a ball before, the amount of support shown throughout the two weeks was incredible to witness. As the team bonds grew stronger, the last couple days of camp had a sense of nostalgia. For many kids in the city, this soccer camp was the highlight of their summer, and it was soon coming to an end.

Following tradition, the last day of camp consisted of a BBQ for the whole community where campers, coaches, staff, and families had the opportunity to come together to celebrate another successful camp.

The campers hosted special guests from the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment as they talked to DC SCORES Executive Director, Bethany Henderson, and some of the kids and coaches.

Of course, we also have to recognize the awesome camp sponsors District Sports, Target, and the Office of Latino Affairs, that help make camps like these a reality for D.C. kids.

For the campers, their efforts of working together as a team were tested during the most important game of the summer, the coaches vs. campers game!

No team of campers has ever won a game against the coaches, EVER, and this time was no different. Even though the coaches continue their reign as summer camp champs, the kids came close in some instances which demonstrates the teamwork they built.

Thanks to this special opportunity that DC SCORES provides, kids that arrived as complete strangers, built teams and friendships that will go beyond their time on the field at Tubman.

Spring SCORES with the Tigers, Part VIII: Wrapping up for Jamboree!

This spring, we are following Amidon-Bowen's season highlighting their service-learning project, but also attending games and soccer practices. The Tigers are located in Southwest D.C. in Ward 6. You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram. Check out Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII of the mini series.

Written by Lorena Palacios
Communications Intern

In the final edition of our series with the Tigers, I got the chance to hear from the kids and coaches how successful Fight 4 Fitness was in their community, as well as hang out with them at Jamboree!.

During soccer practice and service-learning, there seemed to be a certain level of excitement in the air knowing that Jamboree! was only a few days away. The time the Tigers spent outside playing soccer was very free-flowing and lively, truly just playing for the love of the game. As the school year comes to an end soon, one of the second grade classes came out to practice to see what was in store for them next year as third graders when they become a part of DC SCORES.

Going into service-learning time, I was so excited to find out how their Fight 4 Fitness campaign went and check out the poster they were working on that showcased their project.

It is obvious how much these kids love to put their creative skills to use! The poster was super colorful with drawings the Tigers made of their favorite fruits and vegetables, pictures of them going out to grocery stores, and talking to their peers about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Their next task was to create captions for their pictures to explain what happening during that captured moment, but Coach Lee added the challenge of writing the caption in five words or fewer. It can be hard to write so little about something you love so much, but the Amidon-Bowen students crushed the challenge like always.

Everything was ready for the big day... JAMBOREE!

When I met up with the Tigers during the spring season celebration, their levels of excitement and happiness were through the roof! They were so thrilled to share their service-learning project, as well as see what the other DC SCORES teams worked on during the season.


It was such a great sight to see everyone enjoy such a truly special day. Coach Carlos, Coach Lee, and Coach Pecot looked so proud watching their team compete with other schools on the field. There was so much support from the kids as they cheered on their teammates during the games.

I will always be super grateful for the opportunity I had to work with all of the kids and the coaches that were always a pleasure to work with. My days were better whenever I had the chance to hang out at Amidon-Bowen.

There honestly could not have been a better way to wrap up spring SCORES with the Tigers. Their hard work on and off the field paid off in amazing ways by creating change in their community. Fight 4 Fitness was more than just an awareness campaign, it was the first step toward a healthier lifestyle for the rest of their lives.

Spring SCORES with the Tigers, Part VII: Putting plans in motion

This spring, we are following Amidon-Bowen's season highlighting their service-learning project, but also attending games and soccer practices. The Tigers are located in Southwest D.C. in Ward 6. You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram.

Written by Lorena Palacios
Communications Intern

The poet-athletes of Amidon-Bowen were so awesome with me on my first day as an intern, so I was very excited to go back and check out the progress of their Fight 4 Fitness campaign.

As always, the Tigers started with some soccer practice in preparation for their next game day. A scrimmage between the boys and girls got their enthusiasm going and the penalty shooting drills got their minds in the right place to start working on their service-learning project.

Once practice was over, everyone split up into their committees and went right to work. This session was all about putting their plans into motion and getting ready to execute them by showcasing the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The coaches and staff were a great resource for the kids to get organized on all the tasks they set out to complete. Mr. Keck was assisting the Marketing committee in putting up posters in the school hallways, available in English and Spanish, that highlighted healthy food proportions. Coach Pecot worked alongside the Information Desk committee to gather all the supplies they were going to handout to the student body, including water bottles, pencils, and flyers with healthy living tips. In the school cafeteria, Coach Lee assisted the Media committee in practicing their morning announcements, which included poems written by the kids.

Earlier in the week, the Tigers had worked on a PowerPoint presentation and gathered pictures showcasing specific foods and recipes the Amidon-Bowen students can start incorporating at home.

With the school year wrapping up soon, the Tigers hope to make an impact within their community by really emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle by talking one-on-one with their classmates about how easy it can be to adjust our habits.

It's obvious how much this service-project has changed the kids' view on being healthy. They're all so excited about their plans and are constantly discussing their favorite fruits and vegetables (strawberries and cabbage are the top picks for each).

I can't wait to go back and hear about the success and impact their Fight 4 Fitness campaign has been among their community!

Spring SCORES with the Tigers, Part VI: Timelines & Tasks

This spring, we are following Amidon-Bowen's season highlighting their service-learning project, but also attending games and soccer practices. The Tigers are located in Southwest D.C. in Ward 6. You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram.

Written by Lorena Palacios
Communications Intern

During my very first day as an intern at DC SCORES, I had the privilege of hanging out with the kids of Amidon-Bowen and learning about their service-project, Fight 4 Fitness.

Even though it was a bit windy outside, it was overall a great day to start off with some soccer. Coach Lee and Coach Carlos had the Tigers practicing their passes and getting used to using both of their feet. The poet-athletes then went on to have some 1v1 drills to get them warmed up for their scrimmage. These kids are seriously so skilled with the ball. During the game, one of the goalies scored from their side of the field!

After such an exciting game, everyone was in a great mood to start setting a timeline and specific tasks that are going into Fight 4 Fitness.

The Media, Marketing, and Information Desk committees each started brainstorming specific goals each group is going to put into place to accomplish their overall objectives for their project. Their four main goals are: to raise awareness about their program within their school community, inform the students about the importance of healthy eating and drinking plenty of water, remind everyone to exercise daily, and teach families how to incorporate these habits into their lives at home.


Last week, the Marketing committee put up posters in the school's hallways about healthy eating portion sizes. The Information Desk is going to share quick and easy recipes, like strawberry balsamic and spinach salad. Finally, the Media committee was gathering research about healthy facts to include in the morning announcements starting the very next day.

Did you know that the healthiest food item in the world is a lemon? I didn't know until the kids in the Media committee found that out in their research!

As always, Mr. Keck, Coach Lee, Coach Carlos, and Coach Pecot were very helpful in assisting the committees during their brainstorming and planning process.

It was such a great experience being able to spend my afternoon at Amidon-Bowen. All the coaches and kids were super welcoming and made my first day better than I could have ever imagined. I'm looking forward to going back and continue sharing their progress and results for their Fight 4 Fitness service-project.

DC SCORES Podcast, Episode 13: Meet the new staff

This fall, we welcome six new staff members! Get to know Soccer Coordinators Breelle Hunter, Emily Shinogle and Travis Worra (also a goalie for D.C. United); Soccer Program Manager Chris Hudler; Athletic Director Greg James; and Writing Coordinator Mira Smith as they begin their time at DC SCORES.

Listen below on the embedded player or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes to be the first to hear our latest content.

Photo below (from left): Mira Smith, Greg James, Breelle Hunter, Emily Shinogle, Chris Hudler.
Second photo below: Staff member and D.C. United goalkeeper Travis Worra.

Press Release: D.C. United's United Soccer Club consolidates with DC SCORES

For Immediate Release – October 1, 2015
Craig Stouffer, Cstouffer@dcunited.com, 240.426.2829

D.C. United’s United Soccer Club consolidates with DC SCORES

Programming will reach more than 2,000 children across the District of Columbia this year with the potential to reach many hundreds more over the coming years

Washington, D.C. (Oct. 1, 2015) – – D.C. United and DC SCORES have announced that beginning with the 2015-16 school year, the D.C United Foundation and its United Soccer Club will join forces with award-winning youth development nonprofit DC SCORES to serve more than 2,000 young people across the District of Columbia. By consolidating efforts, overnight the organizations will dramatically enhance and extend their shared mission to improve low-income children’s physical fitness and confidence while building literacy, increasing school engagement, and deepening their connections to their community. Melding DC SCORES’ robust curriculum and proven success with D.C. United’s name recognition and soccer resources presents an unprecedented opportunity to benefit young people throughout Washington, D.C.

“This is a natural union that brings a new level of impact and visibility to the extraordinary work that has been done for years by both DC SCORES and the United Soccer Club,” said D.C. United Chief Operating Officer Tom Hunt. “We are thrilled to combine our resources to maximize programming that is making a difference in the lives of children in the D.C. community.”

“We are extremely excited about the potential of this partnership to build the joy of soccer, instill the fun of learning, and bring the power of a team to hundreds more children,” said DC SCORES Executive Director Bethany Rubin Henderson.

This partnership is not intended to fund current DC SCORES sites. Instead, it is focused on expanding the number of schools and families who have access to meaningful, sports-based, whole-child enrichment programs. Consolidated programming and operations will result in greater visibility of both that unmet need and the benefits of DC SCORES programs within the city and beyond. That, in turn, will open the door to new levels of support and philanthropic investment to expand and respond to the overwhelming demand. The upside potential: 3,000 children / year.

“We’ve seen in cities across the country how soccer is changing young lives for the better — from building confidence to instilling healthy habits to simply exposing children to the joys of the game,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “How fitting that this partnership will strengthen the ability of these two fine organizations to serve young people living in our nation’s capital.”

DC SCORES programming leverages children’s interest in soccer to tackle an array of negative effects of poverty on a child’s life: a lack of extracurricular enrichment, a scarcity of adult mentors, insufficient physical exercise opportunities, and a lack of connection to their community. DC SCORES delivers its unique curricular blend of soccer, poetry, and service-learning through free after-school programs and summer camps led by trained youth development professionals. D.C. United invites all members of the local business community to join it in improving children’s lives by making a donation directly to DC SCORES.

 --- www.dcunited.com ---

The OLA Cup -- A celebration of soccer and community

Written by Colin Patch
Digital Media Intern
@DCSCORESInterns

It was a cool evening at Bell Multicultural High School in the Columbia Heights area of DC.

The stadium lights were beginning to turn on, a Latino radio station was playing crowd favorites, and the mouth-watering scent of chorizo and beef on the grill was attracting scores of people from around the neighborhood.

The main event, however, was on the field where the U19 DC SCORES alumni team was set to take on long-time rivals La Marita Junior (LMJ) in the annual Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (OLA) Cup Tournament.

Crowds filled the bleachers and once the opening whistle blew, an exciting match ensued with both teams possessing multiple scoring opportunities.

Despite their best effort, the DC SCORES team was ultimately defeated 2-1 by their rivals.

While disappointed, coach Popsie Lewis encouraged his players to remain optimistic, reminding them how insignificant just one game -- even a rivalry -- is and to look ahead to the next one. The team was just one of Popsie's, too, and was sponsored by Accurate Conceptions. He also coached a U-15 DC SCORES team in the annual event. And coach Asa Davis led a DC SCORES girls team sponsored by District Sports to the tournament championship in their division!

Coach Popsie Lewis talks to his DC SCORES U-19 team at halftime of their OLA Cup Tournament game. 

As both teams made their way back across the field to greet family and friends, the rivalry was shed and players from the opposing teams joked around with each other and had a good laugh.

"A majority of the kids know each other," Popsie said of the rivalry, "from elementary, and once they get to middle and high school they start playing on these different teams, and it becomes a neighborhood rivalry."

While moving on to different schools may have caused a small rift between the players -- on the field, at least -- the friendships which underlie their history remain firm.

As the vibrant and diverse crowd dispersed from the Bell soccer field, the family-like camaraderie of the Columbia Heights community presented itself in the hustle and bustle of the streets.

In just the two minutes I spent walking with Coach Popsie, a number of friends and strangers -- some from the opposing LMJ team -- called out to tell him "good game" or "best of luck."

My biggest takeaway from the event: any time soccer can bring the community together like OLA has -- win, lose or draw -- it's a celebration for everyone.

Do More 24 2015: The gift of a uniform!

Give a soccer uniform on Do More 24!

How did you feel when you put on a sports uniform for the first time? When you got to represent your school with a a shirt bearing your very own number?

Excited.

Proud.

Like you belonged.

These -- and many more emotions -- are all right answers and they're the feeling kids in DC SCORES get to experience each year. Every poet-athlete in our program, all 1,500 of them, receives a soccer uniform -- a jersey, shorts, socks and shinguards -- upon beginning DC SCORES. They become part of a team.

Unfortunately, there are hundred of kids in DC who lack a team -- who haven't experienced the feelings expressed by the kids in the video above. This is where you come in.

Thursday, June 4, 2015, is Do More 24, a one-day giveathon celebrating nonprofits in the greater DC area. Our goal is to provide uniforms for 500 DC kids currently without a team. Can you help us reach our goal by making a donation of a uniform ($24) or more?

1) Go HERE between 12am-11:59pm on June 4 to join our effort.

2) Then share your gift and tag friends and family, asking them to do the same. This is easy to do on social media. We've even created a Tweet you can use; just click HERE. Or share our Facebook post with your own customized message.

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Because we understand the impact each and every donor is making by providing a uniform, throughout the day we will keep a running list below of High Fives -- we LOVE high fives at DC SCORES -- for those who give. We hope your name makes the list!

THANK YOU!

The DC SCORES team

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#DoMore24 soccer uniforms provided: 357

DC SCORES High Fives list, time given
Shanaz Chowdhury, 11:57pm
Anonymous, 11:06pm
Liselot Koenen, 10:41pm
Melissa Kambouris, 10:25pm
Alen Allen, 10:03pm
Launa Hochstetler, 9:58pm
Anonymous, 9:58pm
Kenny Owens, 9:52pm
Aya Takeuchi, 9:42pm
Disna Cleland-Boyle, 9:37pm
William Dennis, 9:37pm
Mark Lewis, 9:34pm
Leah Hochstetler, 9:31pm
Elizabeth Wendel, 9:29pm
Stephanie Wolfram, 9:13pm
Anonymous, 9:04pm
Addie Thompson, 8:52pm
Brian Bouhl, 8:47pm
Tim Protle, 8:39pm
Anonymous, 8:32pm
Scott Lesmes, 8:29pm
Holly O'Donnell, 8:22pm
Joshua Orrego, 8:20pm
Zakaria Sherbiny, 7:53pm
Heidi Hochstetler, 7:48pm
Allison Brown, 7:35pm
Santano Rosario, 7:03pm
Anonymous, 7:02pm
Ellen Jimenez, 7:01pm
Chrystal Puryear, 6:50pm
Jonathan Judge-Russo, 6:20pm
Karen Lloyd, 6:14pm
Michael Mack, 6:10pm
L. Coley, 6pm
Joseph Santiesteban, 5:59pm
Kara Dunford, 5:55pm
Kelli Davis, 5:55pm
Andrea and John Murino, 5:52pm
Amy and Fred Rubin, 5:51pm
Kenny Shin, 5:46pm
Mark Hazan, 5:36pm
Jeb Burch, 5:33pm
Susan Gomes, 5:25pm
Judith Goodman, 5:08pm
Sebastiao & Roseli Fonseca, 5:05pm
Fonseca Family, 5:04pm
Christina Brown, 5:03pm
Rachel Klepper, 5:03pm
Tayla Bock, 4:57pm
Keiko Yoshino, 4:57pm
Jacqueline Kemp, 4:54pm
Anthony Francavilla, 4:54pm
Nytasha Garland, 4:48pm
Sean Hinkle, 4:48pm
Nancy Clements, 4:47pm
Joni Hirsch, 4:36pm
Greta Poku, 4:35pm
Gillian Parrish, 4:32pm
Jamilah Matthews, 4:26pm
Paul Jackson, 4:25pm
Maritza Carnegie, 4:24pm
Jamie Goldfarb, 4:24pm
Marisa Deline, 4:18pm
Jill Dowell, 4:09pm
Darryl Clay, 3:58pm
Tammy Whyte, 3:51pm
Lauren Bogard, 3:50pm
Tyler Andrus, 3:47pm
Christabelle Gipson, 3:44pm
Allison Frick, 3:44pm
Mary Ryan, 3:41pm
Nancy Kemp, 3:39pm
Christina Velt, 3:32pm
Anthony Brown, 3:29pm
Brian Yi, 3:27pm
Mike Rocco, 3:18pm
Christina Lewis,2:50pm
Steve Goodman, 2:45pm
Jackie Solano, 2:01pm
Emily Thompson, 1:53pm
Pena Madridista, 1:40pm
John Mcknight, 1:39pm
Hannah Estifanos, 1:39pm
Lyndsey Miller-Vierra, 1:37pm
Pierce Brix, 1:37pm
Ryan Kelley, 1:08pm
Sherry Persaud, 12:52pm
Taylor Brown, 12:51pm
Amanda Potter, 12:17pm
Robert & Patricia Watkins, 12:08pm
Emily Schulman, 12:08pm
Cheryl Gregory, 12:02pm
Jo Ousterhout, 12:00pm
Tim & Kathy Hinkle, 11:43am
Mathew Stafford, 11:32am
Emily Gottschalk, 11:18am
John Pellegrini, 11:11am
Lauren Orzechowski, 11:01am
Douglas Vollmayer, 10:48am
Sidney Williams, 10:48am
Kristopher Rengert, 10:43am
Andrea DiMaria, 10:24am
Catherine Heron, 10:23am
Eli & Vesta Hochstetler, 10:22am
Tracey Rutnik, 10:21am
Danielle Rutnik, 10:17am
Stephen Ressler, 10:14am
Marissa Piette, 10:03am
Ayan & Mike Rubin, 10:02am
Christopher Berg, 9:56am
Lauren Cummings, 9:53am
Paul John, 9:50am
Molly Oellerich, 9:49am
Daniel Henderson, 9:47am
Ronald Buch, 9:44am
Kathleen Kiernan, 9:42am
Gwendolyn Vinson, 9:38am
Alex Bearman, 9:38am
Ronya Corey, 9:35am
Stephen Replogle, 9:31am
Donald Hill, 9:29am
Lily Goldstein, 9:28am
Andrew Gaeckle, 9:28am
Anne H Woodworth, 9:24am
Marissa Mcbride, 9:09am
Hirsh Kravitz, 8:59am
MaryBeth Sullivan, 8:59am
Liz Martone, 8:58am
Adam Rubinfield, 8:54am
Anthony Francavilla, 8:53am
Jessica Searing, 8:51am
Mary Amorosino, 8:45am
Betty Schulman, 8:38am
Grant Czubinski, 8:38am
Edward Lovitch, 8:35am
David Crespo, 8:35am
Amy Wrona, 8:23am
Jake Lloyd, 8:18am
Daniel Meloy, 8:05am
Alice Speck, 8:04am
Amy Nakamoto, 8:04am
Bethany Rubin Henderson, 8:04am
Chris Richardson, 8:04am
Karen Lovitch, 8:03am
Julie Rogers, 8:03am
Kelly Dragelin, 8;02am
Andrea Custis, 8:02am
John Guinan, 8:01am
Katrina Owens, 8:01am
Jessica Trevelyan, 8am
Stuart Trevelyan, 8am
Paul Jackson, 8am
Jack Reagan, 7:11am
Danica Keefe, 5:32am
Mary and Terry Fairbanks, 6:18am
Jake Lloyd, 12:07am
Anonymous, 12:13am

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

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!

Welcome to the 20th fall season of DC SCORES

The countdown is finally over!

After 47 days of highlighting each of our program schools across Washington, DC, the season starts this afternoon. When the school bell lets out, 1,500 DC youth will take to the soccer field and receive their personal poetry notebooks.

DC SCORES will begin.

But what, exactly, does the fall DC SCORES season entail? Who runs it? And how often are youth engaged? As everything begins today, here is an overview:

Youth Engaged
We serve 1,500 youth in 29 elementary and 18 DC public and public charter schools. An average "team" at each school has 32 students with an equal gender split. View a list of our schools HERE.

Who coaches?
DC SCORES hires four coaches -- two soccer and two writing -- at each school. The large majority of our coaches are also teachers at the schools, strengthening school-day relationships with students by working with them after school.

How often is programming?
Our elementary schools have programming five days a week. On two days, the students learn soccer skills through practices. On two days, they are in the classroom learning how to express themselves through poetry. And on Thursdays, students participate in game days where a school plays a girls game followed by a boys game against another school. Game days are great for many reasons, including schools visiting neighborhoods they're unfamiliar with and the great community support from families and others.

Our middle schools have programming three days a week, but the same number of hours as elementary schools. In a block scheduling format, schools have both soccer and writing two days a week and then game days on Fridays.



What is taught?
Our coaches are trained to take students through a very specific, comprehensive curriculum for both soccer and writing that includes academic enrichment modules and readily usable soccer practice plans. Above all, coaches instill the core values of Teamwork, Leadership and Commitment in students while also stressing sportsmanship on the soccer field.

What special events are there?
Oct. 25, Fall Frenzy, Trinity University -- Fall Frenzy is our large fall outdoor event for all 800 of our elementary school students. Schools play a round-robin soccer tournament and also engage in myriad fun activities including facepainting, arts and crafts, relay races and more. It's a family-centered event and everyone is welcome.

Nov. 25, Capital Cup, Bell High School -- The Capital Cup is our middle school soccer championships event, with the girls title game followed by the boys game. It is a great afternoon for seeing how much DC SCORES teams have developed during the fall season.

Dec. 3-4, Poetry Slam! -- The Poetry Slam! is the culminating event of the fall season and an absolute must-attend for anyone who's a fan of DC SCORES. The two-night event showcases the original poems of students representing all of our schools, as each team does a 5-minute performance on stage in front of capacity crowds.



How do I get involved?
Great question! There are many ways to be a part of our team this fall:

• Volunteer: Refs are needed for our elementary school soccer games (minimal experience needed). We're also looking for assistant coaches who have an afternoon a week open. Additionally, volunteering at Fall Frenzy is guaranteed to be a good time. For a full list of opportunities, visit our website.
• Come to a High Five! Tour, the best way to learn about the impact of our program in one hour!
• You can also make a real impact at anytime from anywhere by giving the gift of team.

How do I stay connected online?
There are many ways to keep up to date on all things DC SCORES with powerful stories, fun videos, and a plethora of photos:

• Follow us on Twitter: @DCSCORES
• Like us at Facebook.com/DCSCORES
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Follow us on Instagram for daily photos
• View more than 15,000 photos on Flickr
• Follow us on LinkedIn

And, of course, visit www.DCSCORES for all updated information about our program.

We look forward to having you be a part of our 20th season building teams for DC youth!