The SCORESheet, October 2021
GAME DAYS RETURN!
With fall programming in full swing, SCORES is ecstatic to continue the tradition of Friday Game Days. Game Days are a central aspect of our programming and create unique opportunities for poet-athletes and their communities to come together around shared passion, excitement, and enthusiasm. Historically, Game Days were held at Douglass Park in the North Lawndale neighborhood, but in recent years have expanded to more park spaces in SCORES’ communities. Beyond honing their soccer skills, Game Days are a chance for poet-athletes to gain core developmental skills. During each game, coaches honor a student from the opposing team with a sportsmanship award to recognize excellent individual effort. Teams are evaluated on SCORES’ core values of Teamwork, Leadership, and Commitment throughout the season and teams will be honored for exceptional display of these values at the end of the fall.
Game Days are a source of excitement for students. Merary Flores, current SCORES Program Assistant and former program participant, recalled, “For students, Game Days are something to look forward to at the end of the week.” Ernie Alvarez, SCORES coach of 15 years from Cardenas Elementary, described Game Days as, “A reward for students and an opportunity to exercise what they’ve learned in programming.” SCORES Executive Director Amy Mummery, who has been attending these events for more than 15 years, emphasized the importance of creating a Game Day environment that is, “Safe, welcoming, and celebratory.” She is thrilled to return to this tradition after being paused last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and sees this continuing to be a wonderful opportunity to connect with community. “When I think of Game Day," Mummery says, "I envision the joy of us all being able to be together, celebrating our young people, and being in community with each other.”
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS
America SCORES Chicago is proud to work with a number of partners over the course of the year. Our partners believe in a world where all youth find their voice, achieve their goals, and unleash their full potential. Thanks to their support, we continue to be a leader in the sport-based youth development space and are able to carry out our mission of inspiring youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. This summer, SCORES was fortunate enough to partner with the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, whose mission is to inspire and enable youth participation in sports. In addition to being the uniform sponsor of this year’s SCORES Cup, the Foundation has awarded SCORES a $10,000 grant as part of its Sports Matter initiative that will support programming at Cardenas Elementary and LEARN Excel. If your organization is interested in getting involved in what we do, please reach out to Ethan Armstrong at ejarmstrong@chicagoscores.org.
DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation | Cardenas Elementary | LEARN Excel
VOLUNTEER
With fall programming back in full force, we’re once again accepting volunteers! At America SCORES Chicago, we greatly value our volunteers, whose hard work and generosity help make a positive impact on our poet-athletes. With a wide range of volunteer opportunities available, we're positive that we can find the right fit for individuals, groups, businesses and organizations. Check out our Volunteer Page for more details and please fill out the contact form if you’re interested in helping out.
WE’RE HIRING!
America SCORES Chicago is on the lookout for its next Plamondon Elementary Resource Coordinator! The Resource Coordinator will be responsible for the overall implementation and management of the 21st Century Community Learning Center site at Plamondon Elementary. They will maintain the bridge between the school and community, and will provide leadership for the collaborative process and development of a continuum of services for students and families. Check out the full Job Description, pass along to whoever might be interested, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
JUDIT MARMOLEJO
What would you say, you do here?
I am the Resource Coordinator at Catalyst Maria. I handle coordinating for K-8th grade.
Where do you call home?
I’ve lived most of my life in Cicero but I call Chicago home.
Who do you cheer for?
I cheer solely for the Chicago Bulls. I hope one day they will give me a championship, and I am sticking to that hope. When the Cubs won, there was this elderly lady who was almost 85 who had waited her whole life for the Cubs to win - so I’ve always joked and said I’m going to be her, but for the Bulls. I’m going to be 85 and hoping that they win a championship again!
What’s your favorite quote, book, or movie?
My favorite quote is “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I think you always have to rely on your dreams, and if you have something you believe in, you should definitely follow it all the way through. For me personally, I think about how far I’ve come and how I’ve stuck to what I believe in, and I think about having a support system that’s always been there to support me towards that. We should always encourage youth to follow what they believe in. Chicago youth are really dedicated to sports, so in our work, it’s nice to give them that push to follow their dreams.
Where are you bringing a tourist in Chicago?
I always recommend my family and friends to come in the summer, because I think summer is just beautiful here because you can enjoy the outdoors, live music, and food. There are also so many cute things to do in the winter as well, but enjoying the nice summer weather is great. Downtown is so beautiful, and I recommend Navy Pier, the Bean, and also Portillo’s for a hot dog and Giordano’s for pizza.
What do you listen to on your commute?
Now that I’m a mom and my commute is to go pick up and drop off my daughter and come to work, we always have Cocomelon on the radio, all day, every day. So those are my jams right now.
What brought you to SCORES and what do you like about it?
I did an internship through Girls in the Game as I was getting my Bachelor’s in social work. They have great ties to America SCORES Chicago, so that’s how I found out about SCORES. It was a very intriguing opportunity and I like the fact that we are able to just be hands-on with after-school activities and be in inner-city schools in Chicago. I saw the need for all the after-school activities that would be so helpful for both parents and students. It’s nice that I am able to be a part of it and continue with the sports curriculum; with soccer, poetry and writing, and also be able to be creative with the types of activities that are needed.
What is coming up this year in your school’s programming?
We have our theater coming up in the winter/spring, and we’re going to be doing Madagascar. The school had planned on doing Madagascar pre-pandemic, but had to shut it down, so it’s nice that we’re able to bring it back. The students are excited to be a part of theater and acting, and it will be great to see the kids in their costumes, and it’s such a cute movie in general - so it should be fun.
What else would you like to highlight about your work with SCORES?
I would love to highlight how close-knit and helpful everyone is on staff. If one resource coordinator needs help with something, we can always rely on each other, and I think that’s the biggest thing - just knowing that you have that support from your coworkers at SCORES. And you also have the school, so it’s nice that you have a community established where you can get any type of help you need. We all get along, which is really nice, and it’s amazing to have people that you can rely on.
PILSEN COMMUNITY ACADEMY
For this month’s School Spotlight, we head to the Lower West Side for a check in at Pilsen Community Academy (1420 W 17th St.). Since beginning programming at Pilsen in 2013, the partnership between the school and America SCORES Chicago is one described as a family affair built on commitment, communication, and trust. Over the course of the partnership, SCORES has been a key ally during what was a transformational period that saw Pilsen embrace a culture shift to the Community School model and take on a student-led rebranding (GO PANDAS!) that resulted in a students come first approach, and stronger family and community partnerships. A testament to what can be accomplished when leaders work together, align on goals, and have a clear vision for the future, Pilsen continues to thrive within the SCORES network - routinely serving more than 150 students over the course of the school year.
Much of Pilsen’s progression can be credited to Senior Resource Coordinator, Amy Thayer, whose energy and joy continues to bring passionate people together within the community. Today, Pilsen Community Academy is a 21st Century Community Learning Center site offering programs such as Crazy 8's Math Club, Taekwondo, KABOOM! Science Club, Art Around the World, Drumline, Girls on the Run Club, Visual Arts Club, Beat-Making 101, Chicago Children's Choir, Drawing Movement Club, and LGBTQ+ Pride Club, to go along with Literacy In Action Programming for elementary and middle school.
Pilsen Community Academy
I AM/YO SOY
I am an electric bass guitar
Hypnotizing you with my sound
I am tough
Getting knocked down, doesn’t scare me because I always get back up
I am Earth
Peacefully rotating through the seasons
I am the oldest
Chores and responsibility are everyday life
Yo soy frijoles
Porque es mi comida tradicional
I am Batchata
My rhythm never stops
I am power
Building hope with the force of my mind
I am the future
Speaking truth to action
I am an immigrant
I am here
I am proud
Shirly
3rd Grade, John Spry School
Performed at 2016 Red Carpet Poetry SLAM
