Cleveland

Poetry SLAM 2011 was a success! Congratulations to all of our poet-athletes for their excellent Poetry SLAM performances and another successful fall season! On November 19, 2011, over 250 elementary-age students, from nine Cleveland Metropolitan Schools, performed their original works of poetry at the seventh annual America SCORES Cleveland Poetry SLAM! at Cleveland State University’s Waetjen Auditorium before an audience of 500 parents, principals and SCORES supporters.

Eighteen boys’ and girls’ teams and 18 individuals performed poems from the heart. Teams from each school performed 2-minute original group poems on topics ranging from their first soccer game to the virtues of cell phones. Teams also selected one representative to perform an individual poem.

It was a clean sweep for students at Buhrer Dual Language School in the Clark-Fulton Neighborhood. Their boys and girls teams took home the coveted Gold Mic Award for their poems titled, “Soccer Game” and “A School Day.” Individual representatives from both teams were also chosen by the guest judges to represent Cleveland at the America SCORES National Poetry SLAM! Tamia B., age 11, was selected for her poem, “Listen to Me” and Sebastian M., age 9, was selected for his poem, “Tree Talk.” Both students will travel to New York City to perform on the historic Apollo Theater Stage on April 16.

Eric Gordon, Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO, and Monyka Price, City of Cleveland Chief of Education, addressed our students and their families as the evening’s guest speakers. Thank you for your continued support of our poet-athletes!