America SCORES Bay Area (SCORES) empowers students in urban communities using soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. We run after school programs in 32 Bay Area schools. Our teams of poet-athletes play in community game days each week, perform in poetry slams, and organize community action in the spring around social issues important to them.

Description:
With teamwork as the unifying value, the goal of SCORES is that youth are inspired to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities. SCORES began its first year of programming with 150 youth in five schools in San Francisco and has grown to offer programs to more than 900 youth in 32 schools in San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, and San Pablo. Teamwork is a core value that SCORES uses to empower youth to achieve in the classroom, on the field, and in their communities. SCORES' San Francisco programming is designed to support academic achievement, health and fitness, and civic engagement. SCORES youth participate in the following after-school activities with their team: 1) literacy skills development through creative writing workshops; 2) improved fitness through soccer and nutrition education; and 3) community involvement through student-driven service-learning projects.

History:
America SCORES was founded in 1994 in Washington, DC. At that time, a public school teacher was concerned that her students were engaging in high-risk behaviors during after-school hours, as her school did not provide an alternative to spending time on the streets. Starting with a handful of girls, she organized and coached a soccer team which met on school grounds. During the winter months, she introduced poetry lessons to this same team of girls. She noticed that the introduction of team-based activities resulted in these girls developing self-discipline, teamwork, and confidence, which they later applied to academics in her classroom during the school day. Today, the program provides elementary and middle school students with three days of after-school soccer practices and games and two days of writing workshops each week, all of which are conducted by teachers (known as “coaches”). Students compete regularly in literary and sports tournaments and are also required to complete a service-learning project as a team for their community. Since 1999, America SCORES has replicated this model to fifteen U.S. cities by establishing 14 affiliate offices.

Contact people:

Bridget Sumser, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Eva Gabel, Development Director, (phone), (email) Emily Queliza, Assistant Director, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (415) 486-1310
Office fax number: (415) 486-1260

Address:

440 Alabama Street San Francisco, CA 94110 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.americaSCORESbayarea.org

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 16th Street Mission,   Walk distance (in minutes): .3 miles   Nearest Bus Stop: 16th and Harrison, .1 miles minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Spanish
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	15
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes