DC SCORES Poet-Athletes Enhance Community Through Preseason Programming

More than 750 poet-athletes got an extra dose of DC SCORES community this winter thanks to a preseason extension of the nonprofit’s regular season soccer, poetry, and service-learning programming. 

A total of 24 schools were chosen to participate in preseason, which is partially funded by a grant from Learn24, a mayoral initiative launched by Muriel Boswer to improve out-of-school-time programming in the District. The preseason cohort included schools where Learn24 and My Afterschool DC (MADC) funds DC SCORES programming year-round, as well as schools selected because they have a high proportion of new poet-athletes on their DC SCORES team this year. 

The preseason curriculum, developed by youth development specialists on DC SCORES programs staff, focused on teamwork and building strong communities in schools and neighbourhoods. 

The extra two weeks of programming supplemented DC SCORES’ regular spring season curriculum which begins across the nonprofit’s 68 school sites on March 3. During the spring, teams design and execute a service-learning project inspired by their fall poetry, while also participating in weekly soccer practices, gamedays, and tournaments. 

Preseason enabled teams to get a head start on their spring programming while also building DC SCORES community at their school. At least one session during preseason is dedicated to hosting a party for families to welcome them into the DC SCORES program and learn about the organization’s award-winning afterschool model.   

“An essential part of DC SCORES’ impact comes from building community connections not just between poet-athletes and coaches but also with their families and wider communities,” says Tierra Stewart, chief program officer at DC SCORES. “These extra two weeks allowed us to focus on that intentional community-building. Preseason ensured that our poet-athletes know DC SCORES is a space where their wellbeing is prioritized and where they, their schools, their families, and their neighborhoods are valued and empowered.”

One school participating in DC SCORES’ preseason is Boone Elementary School in Southeast D.C. Coaches Jahlesea Davis and Ianne Driver say that DC SCORES has been transformative for their school. “Communication is getting better between students, conflict resolution is improving, and they’re just more confident outside of the program and inside the classroom. DC SCORES is an amazing addition,” says Davis. 

“Having preseason gives us the opportunity to develop those soft skills, like bonding, team-building, and learn the ins and outs of the game [soccer],” adds Driver. “That little bit of extra practice is really allowing the students to go and get more skills.”

“My favorite thing about DC SCORES is being here and playing with my friends,” says Aaliyah, a Boone 5th-grade poet-athlete, who is participating in preseason. “It helps me stay more focused and take away the stress that’s in my life.”