Dorchester, MA – (November 12, 2009) – On Thursday, November 12th, America SCORES New England (ASNE) hosted its 11th Annual Poetry Slam! at the Strand Theater in Dorchester, MA. The Poetry Slam! is a two-hour celebratory event where the youth enrolled in ASNE’s after-school program have the unique opportunity to take the stage and recite original creative writing pieces. At this year’s event, 360 elementary students from 12 Boston Public Schools performed to a packed audience of peers, family, friends, community members, and special guests. In attendance were: Kristine Lilly—2-time Olympic Gold Medalist for the US Women’s National Soccer Team and #13 for the Boston Breakers; Kheli Dube—finalist for the 2008 Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year and #11 for the New England Revolution; and Bob Sweeney—Boston Bruins legend, recent inductee to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall Fame, and current Director of Development for the Boston Bruins.
Dwayne Simmons, ASNE’s Elementary Education Director and Host of the Poetry Slam!, had the honor of introducing Kristine Lilly and Kheli Dube to a crowd of enthusiastic elementary students and guests. Acknowledging the importance of ASNE’s Annual Poetry Slam!, Kristine Lilly proudly announced “Tonight is a great night, it’s for the kids, they get the opportunity to come out here and express themselves… it’s going to be so great to hear what they have inside to share with you.” In agreement, Kheli Dube stated “Tonight is their night, let’s enjoy this night for the kids.” On behalf of The Bruins Foundation, Bob Sweeney had the great pleasure of presenting ASNE with a $30,000 grant award check. Addressing the audience he stated “I played soccer growing up as a kid, but I made my living with my feet…with playing ice hockey…I had a lot of fun, I was in the same position a lot of you kids are in right now, you all have special dreams of being the next great soccer player, the next great guitar player…but on behalf of The Bruins Foundation we see a lot of value in your program and we are happy to support your program.”
The theme of the 11th Annual Poetry Slam!—“ A Tribute to…”—allowed ASNE’s students to address and honor what was most valuable in their lives. Highlights included performances from students at the Young Achievers Elementary School and PJ Kennedy Elementary School. Delivering a tribute to their principal Virginia Chalmers, students from the Young Achievers Elementary School shouted onstage “Thank you for being our principal, that we really trust and must dedicate this to you for being true….…thank you Ms. Chalmers for being so gracious, you understand all races, and you’re tenacious!” With a hats off salute at the end of their performance, students turned their backs to the audience to display a huge ‘Thank You!’ written on each shirt. When asked their motivation and inspiration to write this piece, students replied “…[our principal] is awesome, she helps us, and gives us everything we need!” Students from the PJ Kennedy School delivered a tribute to their heroes. Students addressed a wide array of individuals from firefighter and doctors to parents and family members. Honoring
her mother, one student stated “Mom, I will never stop loving you.” In response, the student’s mother shouted from the crowd “I love you.” This presentation of emotions continued as the Russell Elementary, McKay K-8, Mattahunt Elementary, Mather Elementary, Marshall Elementary, JF Kennedy Elementary, Jackson Mann k-8, Hennigan Elementary, Grew Elementary, and Edison K-8 gave tribute respectively to love, East Boston, earth, volunteer, our leaders: A-Z, America, parents, musical artists, family, and food. At the end of the night, Host Dwayne Simmons announced Adonis Mejia, a 5th grade student from Grew Elementary in Hyde Park, and Chereka McCants, a 5th grade student from Marshall Elementary in Dorchester, as the winners selected to attend America SCORES’ 4th Annual National Poetry Slam! In April 2010, these students will travel to New York City to perform the original poetry in front of a live audience.
