DC SCORES Celebrates Top Moments In A Milestone Year
Learn more about DC SCORES’ 2024 highlights!
Every year brings unique DC SCORES memories, but 2024 produced particularly noteworthy moments as the organization kicked off its 30th anniversary year.
The fall season marked three decades since DC SCORES’ founding by D.C. public school teacher Julie Kennedy at the beginning of the 1994-95 school year. But 2024 also brought record-breaking fundraising achievements, unprecedented partnership opportunities, and powerful moments of poet-athlete connection. Read on to learn more about DC SCORES best moments of the year!
SCORES Con Brings International Network Together
In February, DC SCORES were joined by representatives from the Washington Spirit in San Francisco for the America SCORES International Conference, an annual event bringing together colleagues from across the America SCORES network. The conference focused on program standards, leadership development, and expanding partnerships, including collaborations with NWSL teams such as the Spirit.
DC SCORES staff shared best practices and worked alongside peers to strengthen the organization’s shared mission: empowering youth through soccer, poetry, and service. Sessions emphasized innovation in programming and strategies to build sustainable community impact.
The conference highlighted the growing role of partnerships and the importance of cross-network collaboration to connect youth with role models and opportunities to thrive on and off the field.
“SCORES Con was an excellent opportunity to align on our program model, share resources on how best to serve our communities, and (most importantly) connect with wonderful people from across North America who are dedicated to building the poet-athlete movement,” said Tony Francavilla, Chief Development Officer of DC SCORES.
Building Intentional Community At Coach Kickoff
No DC SCORES season is complete without Coach Kickoff, a bi-annual training and networking event for DC SCORES’ more than 300 coaches!
On March 2, DC SCORES launched its spring season with a Coach Kickoff at John Lewis Elementary. The day focused on community building and inclusivity, with workshops led by DC SCORES staff on everything from empowering youth to overcome systemic barriers like racism and gender inequality to how to lead a successful service-learning practice.
The fall season’s Coach Kickoff took place on September 7, and explored how to create psychological safety for poet-athletes in the face of an escalating youth mental health crisis. The event also presented opportunities to discuss updated policies for the new season, which included creating safe and gender-inclusive teams for youth in DC SCORES.
“Coach Kickoff is always one of my favorite events,” said Executive Director Katrina Owens. “It’s inspiring to see our coaches reflect on their incredible work and prepare to make a lasting impact this season.”
Meeting Transportation Needs with Ashley Hatch
On March 13, Washington Spirit star and DC SCORES board member Ashley Hatch hosted Train Like A Pro With Ashley Hatch, an adult soccer clinic fundraiser. Joined by her teammates and Spirit technical staff, Hatch led participants of all skill levels through professional-style drills in dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Proceeds from the clinic supported transportation for DC SCORES poet-athletes, a key focus for Hatch since joining the board in 2022.
“Together with District Sports, Ashley and her teammates created the perfect event: a night where we celebrated our love of soccer while supporting thousands of kids in our city. I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening as a soccer fan in D.C.” said Tony Francavilla, DC SCORES Chief Development Officer.
Janeese Lewis George and Jason Reynolds Win 2024 Poet-Athlete Awards
In May, Janeese Lewis George, D.C. Councilmember and DC SCORES alumna, and bestselling author Jason Reynolds were honored with Poet-Athletes Awards for their leadership and advocacy.
Lewis George, recognized for her public service, shared how DC SCORES helped her overcome shyness and develop teamwork and conflict resolution skills. Reynolds, celebrated for his work that speaks to the inner lives of young people of color, was awarded for his impactful storytelling.
The award was presented at Our Words Our City, DC SCORES’ annual spoken word showcase, where youth poet-athletes performed original poetry. Both honorees participated in a panel discussing their D.C. roots and connections to DC SCORES, inspiring the next generation of poet-athletes.
“The reckless abandon of young people presents opportunity and possibility if it is harnessed into something irreverent and intentional,” said Reynolds on receiving the award. “You gotta have community, true human community, and DC SCORES is part of creating that for them.”
Read more about Lewis George here.
Read more about Reynolds here.
Poet-Athletes Give Moving Performances at Our Words Our City
On May 7, young poets from DC SCORES’ Youth WORD Project stepped into the spotlight at Our Words Our City, the organization’s premier poetry showcase.
8 young people who first discovered a passion for poetry through DC SCORES performed new, original works at the event, which was hosted at Arena Stage and co-sponsored by the Washington Spirit. Poem topics ranged from young people’s experience of gun violence and parental loss to the joys of reading and how to build self-confidence. The event also featured the presentation of the Poet-Athlete Award to recipients Janeese Lewis George and Jason Reynolds.
“I was so proud of every Youth WORD poet-athlete who performed on that stage,” said Zarea Boyde, a DC SCORES staff member, alumna, and lead for the Youth Word Project. “They work so hard all year and watching them wow the audience with their powerful poems makes me so hopeful for the future of D.C.”
DC SCORES Wins $2 Million for Poet-Athlete Programs from Yield Giving Award
In 2024, DC SCORES received its largest ever gift — $2 million awarded from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call. The award recognized community-led and community-focused organizations whose work addresses critical community needs.
DC SCORES was one of the organizations selected from over 6,300 applicants for the Open Call, which expanded its award pool to recognize exceptional community-led organizations. As DC SCORES celebrates its 30th anniversary, this milestone funding will enable the nonprofit to grow its impact and empower the next generation of poet-athletes to become leaders.
“D.C. needs more poet-athletes. Gifts like this one from Yield Giving, alongside the tireless efforts of the wider DC SCORES community, enable us to reach those poet-athletes and transform them into community leaders,” said Katrina Owens, DC SCORES Executive Director.
Thousands of Poet-Athletes and Families Gather for Jamboree
On June 1, elementary school poet-athletes from across the District came together at Catholic University for Jamboree, an annual soccer tournament and community festival.
More than 30 teams participated in a round robin 8-a-side tournament at Cardinal Stadium in an event that also included catered lunch, a series of bounce houses, and the chance to rep (temporary!) DC SCORES tattoos.
The day of fun marked the beginning of summer and poet-athletes’ families were invited to attend to celebrate everything their children achieved during DC SCORES’ spring season.
“Jamboree is always one of my favorite events,” said José Granados, DC SCORES Program Coordinator of Soccer. “Seeing so many kids in DC SCORES jerseys having fun, playing together, and building friendships with other youth from all over the city fills me with so much pride.”
Poet-Athletes Take on Environmental Issues Through Service Learning
This spring, many DC SCORES poet-athletes explored environmental issues through service-learning projects.
At Raymond Elementary, students worked with Pepco and D.C. United to learn about energy conservation and hosted an Earth Day event featuring interactive sessions and a surprise appearance by D.C. United’s Jared Stroud.
At Thomas and Van Ness Elementary Schools, poet-athletes focused on water advocacy, studying the Anacostia River’s history and significance as a symbol of community power. Through the WASH Football Series and local partners, they explored water access, sanitation, and hygiene, becoming advocates for cleaner water.
“Service learning for me personally is one of my favorite parts of DC SCORES,” remarked Raymond DC SCORES coach David Petersen. “It’s exciting to see them grow and share things about how they can help their community.”
DC SCORES Poet-Athletes Visit Arsenal WFC on U.S. Tour
Arsenal Women and DC SCORES teamed up in August to create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Bancroft Elementary poet-athletes! The Bancroft team joined Arsenal’s practice at George Mason, where head coach Jonas Eidevall and his staff led them in a training session, followed by a poetry masterclass with players Lotte Wubben-Moy, Alessia Russo, and Emily Fox.
The event marked the first time Arsenal’s women’s team connected with DC SCORES poet-athletes. Eidevall praised the power of connection and emphasized how soccer can build bridges in communities, saying, “Football is a tool to support people on that journey, sometimes to make it as a footballer, but sometimes as a foundation to succeed in other aspects in life.”
Poet-athletes also created acrostic poems centered on the term “poet-athlete,” with players including Wubben-Moy, who founded Time to Explore, a creative program for girls in north London.
Magic Johnson Meets Poet-Athletes to Mark New Washington Spirit Investment
In September, NBA legend and new Washington Spirit investor Earvin “Magic” Johnson made a surprise visit to Ida B. Wells Middle School, meeting DC SCORES poet-athletes during their girls’ soccer practice. Joined by DC Public Schools Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee and Spirit owner Michele Kang, Johnson participated in the event to launch his investment in the Spirit and champion the club’s mission to expand access to sports for women and girls in the DMV.
The Spirit has partnered with DC SCORES since 2020, supporting girls’ soccer programs at Ida B. Wells Middle School and Excel Academy. The club also provides free home game tickets for poet-athletes in the Young Supporters section at Audi Field.
DC SCORES Executive Director Katrina Owens praised Johnson’s support for women’s soccer and girls’ sport in the DMV, “Young people are worth the investment, and we’re so honored to welcome Magic Johnson into our work with the Spirit and into the DC SCORES family.”
DC SCORES Kicks Off 30th Anniversary at One Night One Goal
On October 17, DC SCORES marked its 30th anniversary with a record-breaking One Night One Goal at Audi Field. Nearly 600 supporters, alumni, and staff attended, raising an unprecedented $550,000 for poet-athletes — DC SCORES’ largest single fundraising success.
The event featured poetry performances, youth stories, and tributes to the six women who have led DC SCORES since its establishment in 1994, including founder Julie Kennedy. Kennedy was presented with the first-ever DC SCORES Legacy Award, along with a custom-designed soccer jersey created by local artist Trap Bob.
The evening also included live performances by America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Malik DOPE and DC SCORES Chief of Arts and Culture Charity Blackwell, as well as appearances by Washington Spirit player Ashley Hatch and former D.C. United captain Steven Birnbaum.
Award-winning writer and DC SCORES Board Member Clint Smith closed the evening by recalling how his first experience of DC SCORES poetry slams was a powerful call to action. “[I saw] these young people step so fully into themselves and talk about…what they imagined as the possibilities for their lives,” he said. “It’s time to dig deep and invest in making D.C. a Poet-Athlete City.”
Middle School Poet-Athletes Put On Thrilling Show Under Lights at Audi Field Capital Cup
Soccer fans across the country may have been gripped by the Washington Spirit’s final-clinching Audi Field shoot-out against Gotham F.C. on November 16, but members of the DC SCORES community were still recovering from their own nail-biting night at the stadium the day before.
On November 15, the top middle school teams from DC SCORES’ coed, girls, and boys divisions battled it out at Capital Cup, which is held annually at Audi Field.
Both the girls’ and boys’ finals went down to the wire, with penalty shoot-outs securing wins for Lincoln Middle School (girls) and Capital City Public Charter School (boys) after a victory in regular time for Inspired Teaching in the coed division.
“To me, there’s no better example of the investment we make in our youth than seeing them live out their own championship dreams on the same field as the pros,” said Jason Gross, DC SCORES Senior Director of Soccer and Operations. “It shows our poet-athletes that they have a community that is rooting for them and wants them to experience the best the District has to offer.”
Poet-Athletes Inspire District Leaders at Record-Breaking Poetry Slams
In November, more than 3,500 poet-athletes took to the stage for DC SCORES’ annual poetry slams.
Middle School Slam took place on November 15 at Roosevelt High School while elementary schoolers competed on November 23 in back-to-back Westside and Eastside Slams at Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium.
DC SCORES slams are always hotly anticipated in election years, presenting D.C.’s youth with the opportunity to voice their opinions on the issues impacting the world. This year’s slam featured poems on the environment, the election campaign, gun violence, the impact of powerful women in history, and more, with city leaders including D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, and radio personality and community advocate Justine Love in attendance for the powerful performances.
The slam also debuted a new format for middle school, with teams having the option to participate in a non-competitive open mic for schools with youth new to spoken-word poetry. DC SCORES also secured a new, professional elementary slam venue in Howard’s historic Cramton Auditorium.
“We wanted to try something new for our 30th anniversary and the new slam format for middle school and venue at Howard for elementary made slams really special this year,” said Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez, DC SCORES Senior Program Director for Poetry and Community Arts. “We met our poet-athletes were they were and they all walked away uplifted by a great experience that they could only have at DC SCORES.”
