The SCORESheet, August 2021
CHICAGO’S COMEBACK CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES IN STYLE
America SCORES Chicago partner, Sport for Good Chicago, an initiative of Laureus USA, recently announced "Chicago's Comeback," a campaign encouraging Chicago residents to sign a letter of support calling on legislative stakeholders and funders to prioritize sustained, year-over-year funding for local sport-based youth development programs as they seek an equitable post-pandemic recovery.
We encourage you to read the entire release HERE and sign the LETTER OF SUPPORT.
POET-ATHLETES REFLECT ON SCORES EXPERIENCE
America SCORES Chicago’s K-8th grade programming isn’t designed to be a feeder program for its staff. However, when a poet-athlete alum finds their way through the doors of SCORES as a member of its team - there’s something poetic about the full circle way it works out. Case in point, Merary Flores and Giezi Gonzalez. Flores and Gonzalez were poet-athletes who later found themselves leading the programs they were once a part of as students, now as full-time members of the SCORES staff. As they are set to put the finishing touches on their respective terms as Program Assistants and Coaches through SCORES' parntership with Up2Us Sports, we took the opportunity to discuss their experiences through the lens of their unique perspectives.
Go HERE to read their full reflections.
TEAMWORK BRIGHTENS HALLS OF HAMLINE
When students return to John H. Hamline Elementary School, they will be treated to a new work of art hanging in the hallway of their school. The mural (see above) came to life courtesy of the collaborative efforts of a group of Hamline middle school students and Chicago-based visual artist and designer, Louis De Guzman. Over the course of the summer the students worked alongside Louis and his team to bring to life a work of art rooted in school pride, collaboration, and community.
Go HERE to read the full story.
MATT GAUEN
What would you say, you do here?
I am the Resource Coordinator at Orozco Academy in the Pilsen neighborhood.
Where do you call home?
I am originally from Westerville, Ohio and have called Chicago home for the last nine years. I currently live in West Town.
Who do you cheer for?
I cheer largely for Chicago teams, with one notable exception that I am a Packers fan - even though it has been a rough offseason for us. I do follow a lot of sports teams and am the go-to person in my family for sports trivia.
What was your favorite Olympics moment?
I am always a sucker for the tear jerking Olympic stories. The two high jumpers who had been friends since they were teenagers who decided to share the gold medal stands out right away. Or the story of the Bermudan woman who became the first person from her county to win a gold medal. Those are the types of classic Olympic stories that I’m drawn to the most. My sister works with adaptive technologies for persons in wheelchairs, so she has been educating me on all the cool things coming up in the Paralympics, so I’m very excited to watch that as well.
What’s your favorite sports movie scene?
In keeping with the Olympics theme, one of my favorite sports scenes in any movie is when the bobsled team in Cool Runnings picks up their sled after it crashes and walks it to the finish line. I guess in real life they just walked it, but carrying the sled was much more dramatic in the movie!
Where are you bringing a tourist in Chicago?
I like to pride myself in going beyond the standard standard downtown scene because there is plenty to do in the neighborhoods. I love the Green Mill jazz club in Uptown. If I’m looking to take in the beauty of the city, I love the Garfield Park Conservatory or even the 606.
What do you listen to on your commute?
Most of the time it’s NPR or WBBM - real riveting stuff over here.
What brought you to SCORES and what do you like most about your role?
My SCORES story goes back about six years when I had the opportunity to volunteer with SCORES while I was still an AmeriCorps member. I was wrapping up my hours and needed a volunteer opportunity and saw it was having a Game Day. I volunteered as a referee for that Game Day and was around all day to help wherever I was needed. From that one experience, I was really impressed with this unique blend of poetry and soccer. On paper it’s such an interesting concept and then when you see it in person you realize, whoa, this works! This fall I was looking for a new opportunity and saw this position open up and thought, what are the odds that this organization that I liked so much would be hiring. So I applied and fortunately got the job! I love sports based youth development and have always been drawn to places that focus on getting all kids in the game and keeping them in the game.
The young people are who energize me in this role. Being able to interact with students and parents this summer was great, especially coming off the year we went through. I get excited when young people try new things and push themselves beyond their known boundaries. Whether that’s in sports, or science, or writing - what motivates me is to push them to succeed in whatever the endeavor is.
I DREAM
I dream of a world that is violence free
Kids shouldn’t be shot and killed like Tyshawn Lee
Did you know, he was the same age as me?
I don’t understand.
Why is it getting worse?
I don’t believe we’re cursed.
Something must be missing.
Friendship, partnership, respect for life-
It’s what makes us human
and motivates us to
say NO to violence
and yes to love.
If you see someone upset, give them a hug
I think people are so used to violence,
they forgot how to love.
We gotta reprogram our hearts and minds
Time for a factory reset
For all of mankind
The key to unlocking peace
is inside of you and me
Together, let’s make a world
that is violence free.
Derrick S.
4th Grade, Johnson Elementary
ON THE DOCKET
SCORES Cup | CIBC Fire Pitch
Saturday, August 28
CPS Classes Begin
Monday, August 30
* Stay tuned for our complete fall program calendar
