News and Events

For an audience of 300 at the New York Stock Exchange, including members of the New York Cosmos and New York Red Bulls, the America SCORES 7th Annual National Poetry SLAM! featured poetry performances by 27 elementary school children from 14 cities. Also in attendance were guests of honor football legend Shep Messing and soccer visionary, Joseph Tacopina. The event, a benefit for America SCORES, reached its $150,000 fundraising goal thanks largely to these honorees and their friends, including international soccer icon Pelé, who collectively matched the evening’s donations with $10,000. Funds will be used to continue delivering high-quality afterschool programs for 8,000 youth at no cost to their families.

The honorees also shared their perspectives on America SCORES:

For the students, the National Poetry SLAM! was the culmination of a semester of afterschool writing and performing workshops, and auditions in all 14 cities. Selected from thousands of America SCORES’ daily participants, these 27 students took center stage and wowed the audience with their poetry, confidence and creativity. Poetry included a group poem and 27 unique individual poems. Students’ individual poems focused on serious issues such as personal strength, immigration, self-confidence, family tragedy and also lighter youthful experiences such as getting in trouble, mastering tongue twisters and even a bad haircut!   See the photos or read the poetry.

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WATCH THE 2013 NATIONAL POETRY SLAM!
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America SCORES 2013 National Poetry SLAM! from Collaborate: ideas & images on Vimeo.

To see photos and more, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/america.scores

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Meet Soccer Legend Shep Messing at the National Poetry SLAM!
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“America SCORES changes the lives of children who need it most. As a result, their poet-athletes have shown the unlimited potential to be brave, to make a difference and have inspired me with their efforts.” – Shep Messing

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Meet a Poet-Athlete
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Geovani represented New England at the 2013 National Poetry SLAM! because… 

• he demonstrates sportsmanship “What I learned from all of the cultures and kids [ of my SCORES team ] is that just because you lose a game or you don’t score this game, doesn’t mean you have to get upset about it… friendship is what everyone cares about and to play hard is winning actually.”
• he supports his soccer team “I’m a leader on the soccer field, because I don’t think, ‘Oh, I’m just [going to] take the ball for myself.’ I think that other kids on the team deserve to actually play and score. Not just [me],… they need opportunity too.”
• he is a leader “In a classroom, I’m a leader because I help everyone. If my friends have a problem, I try to solve it. When some other kid is bothering or picking on me or one of my friends, I tell them, ‘Calm yourself, because this is life. Don’t just get worked up about it.’”
• and he is an amazing poet! “I just want the world to know that I’m a great poetry guy, and not just [the people] in my school. I want everyone to know that I can make a good poem and if they love it, well, good. If they don’t, suit yourself.”

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NATIONAL POETRY SLAM! TEAM
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