Thursday Poem of the Week!

In honor of ASNE's upcoming benefit concert on Sunday, May 2nd, STAND UP FOR SCORES, please enjoy ASNE poet-athlete Daniel M's poem "Silence," an ode to the necessity of music and the power of voice.

Silence

Silence is something that I can’t do

It can’t be taught in words or books

Silence for me is a feeling of gloom

It is something sad about me

When I think of silence I think of black

My mind is clear my jaw snaps

I can’t image life without music

Life without a beat or two

Silence to me is like up without down

And black with out white

That is why silence is not for me

by Daniel M.

Inspiration, Transformation, & Sweat Equity: The World Cup Boston 2010 Service Learning Day

**Article Courtesy of South Africa Partners

Saturday at Grove Hall and Harambee Field in Dorchester, a team of over 200 volunteers transformed two physical landscapes into amazing, multipurpose green spaces.  Volunteers’ positive energy, hard work, and dedicated commitment to the community were all tremendous: The Boston Globe called the resulting park “a dream come true.” 

At Harambee Field, volunteers laid sod at record speed, quickly covering the soccer field goal mouth to goal mouth.  Next to this field activity, America Scores volunteers led soccer skills and drills and a small friendly tournament.  Inside the Boys & Girls Club, OrigiNation led a dance workshop, children painted birdhouses and read South African children’s stories, and more. 

At Grove Hall, some incredibly challenging physical work took place, with astounding results.  First, volunteers cleaned the vacant lot of trash, glass, rocks, and more.  Then, with shovels and pickaxes, it was time to break up the ground: boulders and broken-up concrete were under the dirt throughout the site.  This was the hardest work of the day.  Then volunteers carried and laid mulch, fine gravel, and fresh soil throughout the park, creating a seating area “The Circle of Love,” a playground area and more.  Kids painted murals to attach to the fence, and put in plantings.  The pictures below from Sunday’s Boston Globe give a real sense of what is was like at Grove Hall, where volunteers stayed long past the anticipated 3pm closing time, wrapping up the major work and leaving the site clean at around 6pm. 

It was a truly transformational day of service, for which we are so grateful to our volunteers, sponsors and friends.  On Saturday, a real difference was made in Boston’s neighborhoods.

- South Africa Partners Staff and The World Cup Boston 2010 Management Team

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

 

 John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

A special thank-you to our WCB2010 Service Learning Partners

• City of Boston
• Center for Youth and Families
• Parks and Recreation
• MassHousing
• Abekam
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston
• AmeriCorps/Mass Promise Fellows
• City Year/Care Force
• WeGotSoccer
• Ripples of Hope
• Massachusetts Youth Soccer
• America Scores New England
• New England Revolution
• Boston Breakers
• ALPFA
• Univision
• Barr Foundation
• The Boston Foundation
• National Grid
• Longwood Security, Inc.
• Park Landscape
• West Roxbury Crushed Stone
• Woodchester Landscape

Mentor Appreciation Event Wraps Up A Successful First Year

"I feel like I made a difference. There was one day after school when I was practicing soccer with the team and my mentee gave me a picture he made of a very sloppy rabbit saying “don’t mess with me,” which was an allusion to when I told him he needed to have a “game face” as a goalie in soccer. It’s still hanging on my wall.”

The SCORES Mentor Appreciation was a great way to wrap up a very successful first year of the SCORES Mentorship Program. The event recognized the 17 mentors who have collectively put in over 325 hours of service between February and April. The SCORES Mentors took an hour out of their last day before finals to gather together, eat, and reflect on their experiences within the program. When asked what was most satisfying about the SCORES Mentorship Program, the Northeastern Mentors said such things as: “Making a difference in my mentee’s day,” “When they smile, it makes you feel like you are having a positive impact,” “being able to provide a friendly face and support system for my mentee each week,” and “watching the girls play soccer.” They provided great feedback and have helped tremendously in planning the way the Mentorship Program will look in the future. As Northeastern’s semester comes to an end, the Mentors should feel very accomplished at all of the amazing work that they have done for SCORES. They were an enthusiastic and dedicated group that will be hard to top. Big Thanks to the volunteer mentors for making the Mentorship Program such a success!

Thursday Poem of the Week!

Today's piece was written by Adonis M., a 5th grade student at Grew Elementary School in Hyde Park, MA. Adonis performed his poem "Baseball" at Monday's national SCORES Slam in NYC alongside representatives from each SCORES affiliate. Please read Adonis' prize-winning poem below:

BASEBALL

A Rod
Baseball all-star
Catching fly balls and grounders

Hitting homeruns and doubles
Derek Jeter
Enjoying the love of the game
Fighting to be the best
Got high fives for hitting the biggest hit of his career

Go hard or Go home
Hit the best or hit the worst
Interested in the fans
Hoping to be the best

Jump into first place
Kings of the American league and National league
Learned that they can make it all the way
Hope I make it to the MLB someday

Manny Ramirez is an inspiration for some of the things I do today
Nothing can stop me from reaching the top
Opportunities are everywhere
Taking my chances

Practice makes perfect
Quick on the baseball field
Ready to be what I’m destined to be
Exploring new places

Some way somehow I will thrive
Talking to people that can help me
Use the skill and talent I have to succeed
I’m going to make it you just wait and see.

2010 National Poetry Slam Recap

On Monday, April 19th Chereka McCants and Adonis Mejia, both 12 of Boston, joined 28 other America SCORES student-athletes from across the country to perform in the America SCORES National Poetry Slam. The annual event, now in its 4th year, was held at the New York Stock Exchange with the students performing original poems in front of each other and the event crowd. Chereka, a 5th grade student at Marshall Elementary in Dorchester, performed her poem entitled, Peace, while Adonis, also a 5th grader at Grew Elementary in Hyde Park, presented Baseball.

Among those in attendance on Monday evening were US Soccer & Kraft Soccer President, Sunil Gulati, who was a 2010 honoree, and members of the local pro teams, NY Red Bulls (MLS) and NJ Sky Blue (WPS). Gulati also spent most of Monday with the poet-athletes, engaging with them in an education seminar prior to the group's attendance at the NYSE closing bell.

Aside from Monday's main event, Chereka and Adonis joined their peers for a weekend filled with poetry workshops, museum visits and sightseeing throughout NYC.

"For a lot of the students, this was their first time on a plane, first time in NYC, and the first time away from their parents. This weekend symbolized the end of a most memorable journey and the beginning of a whole new world for each poet. I couldn't think of a better way to enjoy the spring blossom than being a part of this event."

Dwayne Simmons, America SCORES New England
Education Director and 2010 Poetry Slam Master of Ceremonies


PEACE, by Chereka McCants

My name? It’s Chereka McCants.
Keep in mind, it doesn’t mean I can’t.

Well, I guess you can say,
I can’t dream without peace.
I can’t grow without peace.
I can’t live without peace.

My peace is something real.
My peace is how I feel.
My peace you don’t conceal.

My peace is the world, my friends and my family.
My peace is making a difference in my community.

My peace is me, Chereka McCants.
And keep in mind, it doesn’t mean I can’t.
I can and I will make peace. Not can’t.
I can and I will make peace.

BASEBALL, by Adonis Mejia

A Rod
Baseball all-star
Catching fly balls and grounders
Hitting homeruns and doubles

Derek Jeter
Enjoying the love of the game
Fighting to be the best
Got high fives for hitting the biggest hit of his career

Go hard or Go home
Hit the best or hit the worst
Interested in the fans
Hoping to be the best

Jump into first place
Kings of the American league and National league
Learned that they can make it all the way
Hope I make it to the MLB someday

Manny Ramirez is an inspiration for some of the things I do today
Nothing can stop me from reaching the top
Opportunities are everywhere
Taking my chances

Practice makes perfect
Quick on the baseball field
Ready to be what I’m destined to be
Exploring new places

Some way somehow I will thrive
Talking to people that can help me
Use the skill and talent I have to succeed
I’m going to make it you just wait and see.

Boston Marathon Team Raises $50,000 for America SCORES New England

On Monday April 19th, 13 runners from the SCORES Boston Marathon® Team traveled to Hopkinton, MA to conquer the 26.2 miles that comprise one of the world's most prestigious marathons - the Boston Marathon. For the past 6 months, these individuals have endured the harsh conditions of a New England winter to spend countless hours training. In addition to the physical preparation, each runner dedicated themselves to fundraise on behalf of ASNE. Collectively, the SCORES Boston Marathon Team has raised nearly $50,000 to date! This is a tremendous accomplishment and will help ASNE better serve the 660 Boston Public School elementary and middle school students engaged in SCORES programming.

Each SCORES runner successfully completed the entirety of the course with times ranging between 3:36:28 and 5:39:39. ASNE deeply appreciates each runner's dedication and commitment over the past few months - we couldn't be more proud!

Paul Baillif 4:38:01
John Bissaillon 4:53:51
Greg Everett 3:52:14
Lizette Jaco 5:00:29
Jane Long Kelly 5:29:31
Josh Kickham 5:39:39
Bernie Lord 4:41:50
Marc Mantell 3:36:28
Todd McCullough 4:01:16
Tom Miller 4:14:36
Carly Sousa 4:23:48
David Suchecki 4:27:14
Keir Walker 5:22:53


If you are interested in running the 2011 Boston Marathonas a member of the SCORES Boston Marathon Team, please contact Jessica LaMoe at jlamoe@americascores.org.

2010 SCORES College Kicks

On Wednesday, April 14th nearly 200 SCORES student-athletes from five Boston schools descended upon Harvard University’s soccer complex for an afternoon of games and activities hosted by the Crimson soccer teams. The event was part of America SCORES New England’s annual “College Kicks” day which brings SCORES middle school teams out to local campuses for an afternoon of soccer and conversations with athletes about the college process. In addition to Harvard University, Bunker Hill Community College also hosted several SCORES teams, running them through a round robin style tournament and holding a Q&A session with the men's soccer team and Athletic Director.

College Kicks continues on Thursday, April 15th when Tufts University and Bentley College visits with SCORES elementary schools in East Boston and Mattapan. For more information on the program or to get involved, email Alex Landberg at alandberg@americascores.org.

Facebook Photo Gallery

Poem Thursday: PEACE, by Chereka M.

Today's piece was written by Chereka M., a 5th grade student at Marshall Elementary School in Dorchester, MA. She will be performing her poem at Monday's national SCORES Slam in NYC alongside representatives from each SCORES affiliate. Good luck, Chereka!!


PEACE

My name? It’s Chereka McCants.
Keep in mind, it doesn’t mean I can’t.

Well, I guess you can say,
I can’t dream without peace.
I can’t grow without peace.
I can’t live without peace.

My peace is something real.
My peace is how I feel.
My peace you don’t conceal.
My peace is the world, my friends and my family.
My peace is making a difference in my community.

My peace is me, Chereka McCants.
And keep in mind, it doesn’t mean I can’t.
I can and I will make peace. Not can’t.
I can and I will make peace.

Meet the SCORES Coach of the Month—Jane Kelly Long!

Jane is a 7th Grade English/Language Arts teacher at the Edison K-8 in Brighton. When she became a teacher 5 years ago, Jane saw the perfect opportunity to share her love for sports with the students she was teaching. She began devoting her time outside of the classroom as a soccer coach for CityKicks—an after-school soccer program for BPS middle school girls. When CityKicks merged with SCORES in Fall 2009, Jane didn’t hesitate to stay on board! Jane was enthusiastic to see that SCORES not only focuses on soccer but also incorporates a creative writing aspect to its after-school programming. For Jane, the SCORES Program was a perfect fit—she has just as much love for writing as she does for soccer.

Jane is extremely passionate about the work she does as a SCORES Soccer Coach. “Having grown up in the city myself, I truly credit my sports experience with helping keep me on the right track and in making the right choices. I wanted the girls I coached to feel this as well, and see what playing sports could do for you—to be healthy, to learn teamwork and to learn goal setting!”

When asked what her most enjoyable part of being a SCORES Coach is, Jane reflected fondly of her students. “The most enjoyable part of it all is hanging with the girls, whether it’s writing or soccer practice or games-they always have something funny to say or share and are very goofy and fun-loving.”

Jane has had the pleasure of working with several girls for 6 SCORES seasons! Watching their commitment, dedication, and development over the past 3 years has been the most rewarding experience for Jane as a SCORES Coach. “They have all grown up so much. As soccer players, they went from not having hardly any stamina or skills, because many of them had never played organized soccer. They would get tired easily, would want to give up sometimes and would, at times, have a bad attitude. Today, those same girls are so skilled, can run all day long and, I’m very proud to say, have such fabulous positive attitudes! This is my last season with them, because they’re graduating, and I’m really, really going to miss them!”

Jane constantly serves as a positive role model for her students whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, or in life. Over the past six months, she has dedicated herself to train for the Boston Marathon® as a member of the SCORES Marathon Team. When asked why she chose to run, Jane shed the light on three important motivating factors. First, she has been a spectator of the marathon for many years—watching both her father and two brothers complete the race. She felt inspired by all the runners and proud of their determination and accomplishment. Second, Jane wanted to feel like an athlete again! Growing up, Jane was very active in sports. Although being a SCORES Coach brings her back to the soccer field on a weekly basis, she has missed participating in sports outside of her professional life. Marathon training has allowed her to truly feel like an athlete again! Third and most importantly, Jane decided to run the marathon to “…show my girls (on the Edison team) how anyone can set a goal, work towards achieving it and, achieve it! At the Edison K8 School and in America SCORES, we’ve done a lot of work in teaching students to set goals, and make plans to reach those goals. I wanted to ‘practice what we preach’ be setting a goal for myself.”

As a member of the SCORES Boston Marathon Team, Jane has also committed to raising money to further support ASNE’s mission and goals. If you would like to help Jane in her fundraising efforts and further ASNE’s mission, please visit her online donation page Kintera/JaneLong

Thursday Poem of the Week!

A Poem About Me

Just right to be a nice person
Ask for help when needed
Skinny like a French fry
Hairy like a black bear
Always listen to important directions
Really helpful when it’s serious
Antlers like a deer when angry
Cute as a pie
Listens very well
Author that can make books
Remembers anything
Kangaroo girl who likes to jump

by Jashara C.

Kids Corner: Redoaune Laalioui

This week, America SCORES New England is showcasing the community service work of Redouane Laalioui, a student at the Irving Middle School and member of the SCORES Leadership Team.

On March 24th, Redouane was honored with the Kennedy Library’s “Make a Difference Award”, an award that is given to students who are nominated by teachers, principals and other community leaders for contributions they have made to their neighborhood, town or community.

Redouane has been involved as a volunteer (in addition to being a student-athlete) with ASNE for approximately a year and a half. During this time, Redouane has served as a mentor for the younger participants in our elementary school program in addition to volunteering as a referee, teaching younger students the rules of soccer, and acting as a role model. Because of his ability to connect with younger players and his willingness to help the SCORES program meet its mission, Redouane was chosen to become a member of the Leadership Team, a group of selected student athletes made-up of middle school students who best embody the SCORES values of Leadership, Teamwork, and Commitment. Though community service is not a required component of the Leadership Team’s activities (which are mainly focused on the cultivation of leadership skills), this group of 15 determined students consistently works together to promote causes that they care about. Most recently, Redouane and his peers in the Leadership Team planned a “Walk for Haiti” in order to raise money for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Redouane was the Leadership Team’s top-distance runner, running a total 9 miles during the event.

Redouane is fairly new to the country, having moved from Morocco at age 10 and has made learning English a major priority. The road that Redouane has traveled to get to where he is now, both in terms of his strong academic performance and his personable social interactions, has been a challenging one. Despite the challenges of moving to a new country and learning a new language, however, Redouane has never lost his focus. In order to overcome such obstacles, Redouane persevered and stayed focused on what was important. In 7th grade, he became his SCORES’ team captain and has continued to spend his free afternoons (and there aren’t many!) giving back to our program and to his community

Thursday Poem of the Week!

Outside

Ants crawling
Puddles of water
Insects flying
Leaves on the ground
Kids wearing their jackets
And I smell the fresh rain
And cars parked on the street

by Jana W.