Poetry SLAM

The Poetry SLAM! showcases the power of America SCORES to improve lives while celebrating the achievements of outstanding elementary and middle school youth. A star-studded event, dozens of SCORES students take center stage for the opportunity to perform their original poetry to a captivated audience. The SLAM! is attended by SCORES families, coaches and teachers from around the city, as well as representatives of top corporate sponsors.

Join us for our 2022 Poetry SLAM

November 4th, 2022 – 5 pm – 8 pm

Waetjen Auditorium (2001 Euclid Ave).

We are excited to have our poet-athletes take the stage for the first in-person since 2019.

Join us to hear amazing original poetry from our 3rd – 8th graders!

Thanks to our 2022 Partners:

Special thanks to our sponsors Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Ohio Arts Council!

Past Poetry Slam Events

2021

Due to COVID-19 we were unable to hold our usual in-person Poetry SLAM event. Even though we couldn’t gather in person we wanted to still provide a safe space for our students to express themselves through poetry and have a spotlight shone on their amazing work.

In 2021 we held a virtual SLAM. All our teams worked together to write a poem which was then filmed by two local videographers. (A huge thank you to Devin Cathcart and Aaron Matti!). These videos were provided to community members who served as judges. Every team and individual received awards based on their scores.

We had 19 teams and 12 individuals write poems for this year’s SLAM.

Special thanks to our sponsor Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Ohio Arts Council!

Congratulation to Core Teams!

Empowered Award:
Buhrer Dual Language Academy – Core Girls Team
Buhrer Dual Language Academy – Core Boys Team
Robinson G. Jones – Core Girls Team

Inspired Award:
Artemus Ward Co-ed Team
Willson Co-ed Team
Warner Girls Leadership Academy Core Girls Team
Robinson G. Jones Core Boys Team
Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy Core Girls Team
Wade Park Core Girls Team

Changemaker Award:
Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy Core & JRs. Co-ed Team
Garfield Co-ed Team
Marion C. Seltzer Core Boys Team
Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy Core Boys Team
Wade Park Core Boys Team
Marion C. Seltzer Core Girls Team

Congratulations to our Core Individuals:

Empowered Award:
Aramis – 4th Grade – Artemus Ward School
Gabriela – 5th Grade – Buhrer Dual Language Academy
Angela – 4th Grade- Warner Girls Leadership Academy

Inspired Award:
Jadon – 5th Grade – Artemus Ward School
Brandon – 5th Grade – Robinson G. Jones School
Ka’Lehya – 4th Grade – Wade Park School

Changemaker Award
Janiah – 5th Grade – Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy
Karizma – 4th Grade – Wade Park School
London – 5th Grade – Wade Park School

Congratulations to our Middle School Teams:

Empowered Award:
Buhrer Dual Language Academy Middle School Team

Inspired Award:
Artemus Ward Middle School Team
Warner Girls Leadership Academy Middle School Team

Changemaker Award:
Wade Park Middle School Team

Congratulations to our Middle School Individuals:

Empowered Award:
Nyla – 7th Grade – Warner Girls Leadership Academy
Brooklyn – 7th Grade – Warner Girls Leadership Academy

Inspired Award:
God – 8th Grade – Buhrer Dual Language Academy

We are proud of all the hard work our poet-athletes put into the Poetry SLAM over the Fall season. Take a look through our program PDF for all the poems and information about our amazing poet-athletes!

SLAM Program

2020

Due to COVID-19 we were unable to hold our usual in-person Poetry SLAM event. Even though we couldn’t gather in person we wanted to still provide a safe space for our students to express themselves through poetry and have a spotlight shone on their amazing work.

In 2020 we held a virtual SLAM. All students who took part in our program were able to write an original poem and film themselves performing that poem. They were all then entered into the SLAM and scored by community member judges. All winners were given gift cards and highlighted in a special Poetry SLAM highlight video.

We had 57 students submit poems for this year’s SLAM. All submissions and the highlight video can be found on our Youtube page here.

Special thanks to our sponsor Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Ohio Arts Council!

Congratulation to our Junior (K-2nd grade) winners:

Aubrielle (Wade Park)
Link (St. Francis)
Jeniyah (Wade Park)
DJ (Orchard STEM)
Kerani (Merrick House)

Congratulations to our Core (3rd – 5th grade) winners:

London (Willson School)
Maeve (Holy Family Catholic School)
Peyton (Holy Family Catholic School)
Kiera (Holy Family Catholic School)
Mia (Holy Family Catholic School)
Chloe (Holy Family Catholic School)
Tya (Wade Park School)

Congratulations to our Middle School winners:

Gregory (Newton D. Baker School of Art)
Paige (Warner Girls Leadership Academy)
Savannah (Warner Girls Leadership Academy)
Zallie (Buhrer Dual Language Academy)

We are proud of all the hard work our poet-athletes put into the Poetry SLAM over the Fall season. Take a look through our program PDF for all the poems and information about our amazing poet-athletes!

Poetry SLAM Program

2019

Special thanks to our sponsor Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Ohio Arts Council!

Community Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our top Core teams!
Gold Mic Award: Albert Bushnell Hart Boys Team, Wade Park Girls Team,
Silver Mic Award: Mound STEM Boys Team, Robinson G. Jones Girls Team,
Bronze Mic Award: Wade Park Boys Team, Artemus Ward Girls Team,

Event Photos

Community Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our  Middle School Poetry SLAM winners!
Gold Mic Award: Mound STEM School
Silver Mic Award: Wade Park School
Bronze Mic Award: Robinson G. Jones School

Event Photos

2018

Special thanks to our sponsor Cuyahoga Arts & Culture!

Community Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our top Core teams!
Gold Mic Award: Fullerton Girls Team, Wade Park Boys Team
Silver Mic Award: Thomas Jefferson Newcomers Academy Girls Team, Artemus Ward Boys Team
Bronze Mic Award: Robinson G. Jones Girls Team, Willson Boys Team

Event Photos

Community Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our  Middle School Poetry SLAM winners!
1st place: Wade Park School
2nd place: Mound STEM School

Event Photos

2017

Special thanks to our sponsor Cuyahoga Arts & Culture!

Core Community Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our top teams!
Gold Mic Award: Mound STEM Boys, Warner Girls Leadership Academy & Mound STEM Girls
Silver Mic Award: Wade Park Boys, Artemus Ward Girls
Bronze Mic Award: Fullerton Boys, Wade Park Girls

Event Photos

Middle School Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our  Middle School Poetry SLAM winners!
1st place: Wade Park School
2nd place: Robinson G. Jones School

Event Photos

2016

Special thanks to our sponsor Cuyahoga Arts & Culture!

Core Community Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our top teams!
Gold Mic Award: Wade Park Girls, Wade Park Boys
Silver Mic Award: Artemus Ward Girls, TIE – Buhrer Boys & Fullerton Boys
Bronze Mic Award: Mound STEM Girls, Newton D. Baker Boys

Event Photos

Middle School Poetry SLAM!

Congratulations to our first ever Middle School Poetry SLAM winners!
1st place: Wade Park School
2nd place: Campus International

Event Photos