Dallas, TX . . . The annual Dallas SCORES Poetry SLAM! will highlight original poetry and a Macy’s fashion show featuring SCORES students, their families and coaches modeling, as well as complimentary dinner for guests. WFAA’s Colleen Coyle, SCORES celebrity spokesperson, will serve as emcee. The event, sponsored by Molina Healthcare and Macy’s, will be Wednesday, December 16 at 6 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Learning Center, 1710 Carroll Ave., Dallas.
SCORES, a national nonprofit organization in 14 cities, has been in Dallas since 2003 and offers after-school soccer, literacy and service learning in urban Dallas Independent School District elementary schools.
The Poetry SLAM! features third through fifth graders reading and performing their original poems of self-expression. A panel of judges will select one student to travel to New York City in April to represent Dallas in the nationwide Poetry SLAM! With students from all U.S. SCORES programs
The SLAM! is free and open to the public. Activities include supper, Molina goody bags for children, an appearance by Dr. Cleo, Molina Healthcare’s cat doctor mascot, $10 gift cards from Macy’s as well as drawings for additional $25 cards. The fashion show, moderated by Sheena Bosworth, Macy’s Corporate Sales Manager, will feature clothing from their Galleria store.
“We are so pleased to have Molina Healthcare of Texas and Macy’s as partners for these events,” said Crystal Schober, Executive Director of America SCORES Dallas. “They can offer our children and families new opportunities and assist us in serving this population through enhanced events and community connections.”
The SCORES program is free and is operating in five DISD schools with at-risk populations. Children play soccer three days a week, developing sportsmanship, discipline, problem-solving and teamwork, as well as receiving exercise resulting in a lower Body Mass Index, improved endurance and weight loss in students experiencing obesity. Through two days of language arts instruction, children develop creative thinking, literacy and speaking skills and gain an outlet to write about personal issues and develop emotionally.
Service-learning projects each spring teach social responsibility as students learn to use their voices to make changes in their communities. Past projects include school beautification, collecting toys for the SPCA, making posters for MADD and improving their school soccer fields.
For more information, visit americascoresdallas.org.