Mission & Impact
Building the confidence and character to succeed—on the field, in the classroom and in life.
Since 2000, we’ve accomplished that goal by delivering free after-school and summer programming that combines three equally fun, powerful activities: soccer, poetry and service-learning. Together they help us shape enthusiastic students into Poet-Athletes, who grow passionate about our program’s activities—and grow actively engaged in our communities, city and world.
Mission
The mission of America SCORES Chicago is to inspire youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. We build teams of Poet-Athletes, young people who express themselves creatively, improve their writing skills, and learn to think critically on and off the field. They build healthy bodies, minds, and communities through the vehicles of soccer, poetry, and service-learning provided through daily after school and summer programming.
Vision
America SCORES Chicago envisions a world where all youth find their voice, achieve their goals, and unleash their full potential.
Part of a powerful national network
America SCORES Chicago is proud to be part of a national SCORES network, with chapters in 12 cities across the country. Together, we provide programming to over 13,500 Poet-Athletes at over 300 schools. As leaders and innovators in the field of Sports Based Youth Development, our chapters share a common goal and commitment to continuous program quality and improvement.
A 21st Century Lead Partner Agency
We cherish the opportunity to embed our programs in schools and the surrounding communities and to establish truly lasting partnerships. As a 21st Century Lead Partner Agency since 2008, we’ve worked with schools in the Pilsen, North Lawndale, Back of the Yards, West Lawn, and Austin communities, implementing our Literacy in Action program as well as managing and leveraging resources to support all out of school time programs.
Read more below about the impact we have on the lives of children, families and their communities.