DC SCORES

We create neighborhood teams that run after-school programs in soccer, poetry, and service-learning. Our programs help children build confidence and skills for success in sports, school, and life. We call the children we serve “poet-athletes,” and we currently serve over 3,500 each year across more than 68 schools in Washington, D.C. Our goal is to reach every Title 1 elementary and middle school in the District by 2030.

In our soccer program, children practice, play games, and compete in tournaments throughout the school year, building friendships and support networks. During the fall, our poetry program teaches creative writing and performance skills, giving poet-athletes a way to express themselves and talk about issues they care about. In the spring, our service-learning program involves poet-athletes in community projects, where they use teamwork and connect with their neighborhoods. A D.C. public school teacher founded us in 1994. We’ve since expanded into the America SCORES network, which serves over 13,000 poet-athletes in 13 cities across North America.

We envision a D.C. where every child, no matter their family income or situation, gets to enjoy childhood through sports, arts, service, and being part of a team. We want to empower every child to succeed academically and grow into healthy teens and adults, both emotionally and physically. We also imagine neighborhoods that truly support and celebrate their children’s achievements.

Our mission is to empower young people to live healthy lives, be engaged students, and build the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. We are committed to the neighborhoods where we work and believe in the power of young people to create change through sports, the arts, and community service.

We have a team of 11-50 employees. We are dedicated to the neighborhoods where we run our programs. Our coaches, who are child development specialists, lead programs at the community level. Most coaches are recruited from the staff of the schools where they coach, which helps provide consistency between the school day and after-school activities. Coaches are paid for their time.

Our culture focuses on empowering young people, building self-esteem, and creating a sense of community through teamwork. We value youth voices and include poet-athlete feedback in our program strategy through initiatives like the Youth Council. Our leadership team includes an Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Chief of Culture and Arts.