About DC SCORES

DC SCORES serves more than 3,000 young people at over 60 elementary and middle schools across the District of Columbia through its soccer, poetry, and service-learning program. 

DC SCORES' award-winning program builds teams of "poet-athletes," young people who are committed to their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Poet-athletes use their voices to express themselves, serve as leaders in their communities, and speak up against injustice. 

The nonprofit was founded in 1994 by Julie Kennedy, a DC public school teacher who wanted to provide after-school opportunities for girls in her class. By sharing her passion for soccer and poetry, Kennedy created an accessible program of activities that helped her students express themselves creatively and grow strong. Since 1994, the DC SCORES model has been replicated in ten other cities across North America under the umbrella organization America SCORES, which annually serves more than 13,000 poet-athletes of all genders and a diverse range of backgrounds.

Our mission is to ensure that every young person in the District experiences the joys of childhood: sports, arts, service, and being part of a community. Learn more about our work at dcscores.org.