Poetry in Motion

Soccer and poetry may seem like an unusual pairing, but America SCORES Bay Area knows it’s a magical mix with a big impact. 

The free after-school program serves 5,000 underserved kids at 130 schools with the fewest resources in school districts throughout the Bay Area. The program provides a winning combination of soccer, poetry, and service-learning to build healthy, caring, engaged youth. 

“Soccer speaks to physical activity and the benefits of being on a team. Poetry is more about the individual’s voice and expressing yourself,” says Colin Schmidt, CEO and Founder of America SCORES Bay Area. “Our amazing corps of coach-mentors deliver a powerful triple-play program that creates a sense of belonging, improves health, and builds confidence. Our Poet-Athletes develop an authentic voice and become leaders in
their communities.” 

The program was created 30 years ago by a public school teacher in the D.C. area and is now replicated nationally in 15 cities. Schmidt founded America SCORES Bay Area in 2001 and they are growing rapidly, adding 2,000 students in the past year and expanding their girls’ program, with the goal of doubling their program and closing their gender gap by 10% in the next two years. 

Many of the students in the program face difficult circumstances, financial hardship, family issues, and even trauma. Having an athletic, arts, and service program that is free, with no transportation costs, can change a child’s life. 

“Childhood has no second chances,” says Schmidt. Their program has a massive impact in areas of real concern for many kids today: emotional well-being, physical health, confidence, creativity, and self-expression.

Bridgette Marin-Valencia would never have considered herself an athlete as a little girl. A self-confessed “girly-girl” who had no idea what cleats were, she was painfully shy with a speech impediment and was self-conscious about her body. 

“She was bullied a lot in school, because she was always just so nice and never stood up for herself until she started playing soccer and she learned… she could stick up for herself,” says her mother, Maria. 

With America SCORES Bay Area, Marin-Valencia learned team-building, blossomed as an athlete, and even found her voice when she read her poem on the radio. By the time she was in 8th grade, she had become an athletic standout and played on the Mexican and U.S. National teams. She is now a starting forward junior for the UCLA Bruins.  

Marin-Valencia credits the program for giving kids a route away from negative influences as well as providing access to universities that their family could not have otherwise afforded. 

“It helps to know that someone is there for you. And is willing to go and take the extra step to help you be somebody that you never knew you could be,” she says. 

America SCORES has been inspiring the souls of Bay Area youth for 23 years, turning them into poets, athletes, and leaders. A magic mix with a big impact, indeed.