Dallas

America SCORES Dallas is a five day per week after-school youth development program.  Dallas Independent School District (DISD) teachers are trained in the America SCORES soccer, literacy and service learning curriculums that work in tandem to teach students teamwork, leadership and commitment.

Our program addresses the need for quality after-school programming focusing on three of the biggest issues facing our disadvantaged youth today:  Obesity, Literacy and Social Inadequacy. The America SCORES model is the only after-school program provider that embraces the whole child.  This program provides not only a safe environment, but complete fitness, literacy, and social leadership training in a dynamic, fun creative learning package to inner city, under-privileged Dallas youth.  America SCORES Dallas uses the strong bridge between better fitness and higher brain function, between team sport engagement and improved social skills, and takes the focus, commitment and leadership acquired as part of a team to building civic leadership in our youth through neighborhood service learning projects

For approximately 90 minutes each day throughout the 10-week fall (starts in September) and 10-week spring seasons (starts in February), teams of 16 girls and 16 boys attend alternating soccer practices and writing workshops, with game day on Friday.  Soccer, the world’s most popular sport, is our tool for transforming the students into a team. For the majority of our poet-athletes is their first opportunity to experience team sports.  Soccer practice and games emphasize leadership, cooperation, communication and sportsmanship, creating a model for positive peer support. Up to ten sessions highlight best practices in health and nutrition through our healthy living curriculum. Participants spend close to five hours per week in physical exercise, engaging in the activity so vital for young bodies to stay healthy and facilitating the development of a life-long physical health habit.

Teamwork skills nurtured on the field become building blocks to success in the classroom as students move indoors for creative writing workshops. Our Power of Poetry curriculum is the focus in the fall.  Poetry has been shown to be particularly effective in improving early literacy, teaching basic grammar skills such as vocabulary development, word form and structure, as well as promoting emotional well being in at-risk children.  At season end, students gather to perform their original works in front of family and community leaders at our annual Poetry Slam! During the spring Writing for the Community season, each team conducts a community assessment, identifies an issue or need, and then applies their writing skills to bring about positive change.  Teams have completed service learning projects ranging from anti-crime and healthy eating awareness campaigns, school beautification projects, community recycling projects, playground improvement campaigns and recess advocacy efforts.  Many of these projects continue to grow beyond the project time span and become legacy projects in the schools and/or communities.

America SCORES Dallas provides a seamless flow of academic, social, physical and emotional development that gives our students the foundation to succeed in the classroom, on the field, and in life.