Miami SCORES Spring Season Highlights
- miami837
- Jul 28
- 5 min read
What an inaugural year! From poetry slams to soccer showdowns, Miami SCORES made its mark in its first year across its partner Miami-Dade-County Public Schools. Our poet-athletes took center stage — with them exemplifying Teamwork Leadership & Commitment weekly! Here’s a recap:Â
2025 Miami Marathon: A Milestone in Our First Year
Feb. 2nd, 2025: Miami SCORES was honored to be represented at the Life Time Miami Marathon & Half—an iconic event that brings together athletes from across the globe to celebrate the culture & energy of our city.
A dedicated group of individuals, including Miami SCORES Gameday Lead Coach Matthew, joined our official Miami SCORES Marathon team, lacing up their sneakers to run in supporting Miami poet-athletes. Every runner, supporter & donor who chose to stand with us during this incredible event helped move our mission forward & brought the spirit of Miami SCORES to one of Miami’s most celebrated stages.
Friday Afternoon Lights, Miami SCORES Style
Feb. 14th, 2025: Kicking off the second half of our season on Valentine’s Day to early April, Miami SCORES lit up the field every Friday afternoon with a city-wide showcase of Teamwork, Leadership, & Commitment. We’re especially grateful to our founding six schools—Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary, Jesse J. McCrary Elementary, Orchard Villa Elementary, Charles R. Drew Elementary, & Earlington Heights Elementary and Liberty City Elementary.
Our weekly game days quickly became the heartbeat of the season—beloved not just by our poet-athletes, but by families, school staff, & volunteers. Every Friday had six games happening simultaneously, with inspiring poetry being shared before kickoff. It was a beautiful whirlwind of coordination, commitment, & joy. And it wouldn’t have been possible without the full support of our village.
Miami SCORES Launches Powerful Service Project at Liberty City Elementary
March 18th, 2025: As part of our unique after-school program that blends soccer, poetry, & service learning, students are turn their ideas into real community action, which is a core component of their spring season.
One of the standout projects, which was recently highlighted by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools media team (https://youtu.be/V3Arhz9JiYs?si=5OqqzdcDOLqf753H&t=333), from this inaugural year took place at Liberty City Elementary, led by the passionate & dedicated Coach L’Oreal M. With heart, vision, & the support of her team, the students launched an in-school food pantry designed to serve both their classmates & the wider community. From snack packs for students experiencing hunger during the school day to donation boxes full of canned goods for local families, the initiative addressed a critical need with compassion and purpose.
A Final Game Day Showdown to Remember
April 4th, 2025: Miami SCORES marked a milestone in our inaugural year with an unforgettable event that brought energy, joy, & inspiration to Liberty City. The final game of the season saw Liberty City Elementary face off against Jesse J. McCrary Elementary — which brought out an incredible group of community leaders & supporters, including:
Professor Craig Skilling, St. Thomas University
Brittany Addams, FIFA
Principal Johnson, Liberty City Elementary
Principal Boynton, Jesse J. McCrary Elementary
Devan M. Vilfrard, District Legislative Aide to Florida Senator Shevrin Jones
Garnet Esters, The Children’s Trust
Rob Uvanovic, Executive Director of Miami SCORES
We extend our deepest thanks to The Children’s Trust for coming out to see our work & to our proud sponsor, Concacaf, for believing in our mission from day one. Together, we’re writing the first chapter of a lasting legacy.
Miami SCORES Poet-Athletes Shine at Jason Taylor Foundation’s Firecracker Poetry SLAM
April 5th, 2025: Miami SCORES poet-athletes stepped into the spotlight at the 11th Annual Firecracker Poetry SLAM, hosted in collaboration with two well established foundations, the Jason Taylor Foundation & bluapple Poetry Network. Backed by the legacy of former Miami Dolphins player Jason Taylor & Hollywood actor Omari Hardwick, these students proved that words can carry as much weight as any athletic or Hollywood audition feat.
We are endlessly proud of each of our selected students for putting the P.O.P. – The Power of Poetry – into action, delivering raw, heartfelt performances that moved the audience & showcased the incredible talent fostered within the Miami SCORES program. Our poet-athletes are not only growing as soccer players, writers & performers – they're developing as leaders, thinkers, & change makers.
A Jamboree to Remember: Celebrating Miami SCORES Student Leaders
April 11th, 2025: The 2025 Miami SCORES Jamboree was a vibrant, joy-filled celebration marking the close of a transformative season of Soccer, Poetry, & Service Learning. We extend our deepest thanks to all six incredible M-DCPS partner schools.
The Jamboree, also known as our Day of Action, is more than a culminating event. It is a celebration of student voices, community strength, & the transformational power of combining athletics, art, & service. The day was made even more special thanks to a guest appearance by professional soccer freestyler, Laura Biondo, whose performance & mentorship left students inspired. We were also honored to be joined by numerous volunteers & community partners, including the FIFA World Cup Miami 2026 Host Committee members.Â
Introducing Junior SCORES: A New Chapter Begins at Earlington Heights
May 2025: As part of our mission to reach even more young minds & hearts, Miami SCORES proudly introduced our Junior SCORES program in partnership with the Taylor Made Futbol Initiative — a pilot program designed specifically for kindergarten through second grade students.
Hosted at Earlington Heights Elementary, Junior SCORES offers a balanced, age-appropriate experience that introduced a three day curriculum for boys’ and girls’ groups following a rotating schedule:
Classroom sessions led by Coach LO & Coach E focused on the building blocks of self-expression through storytelling & poetry
Outdoor sessions with Coach Kike & Coach Daniel helped students learn essential soccer techniques, movement, & teamwork through play-based learning
FIFA Miami World Cup '26 Host Committee: One-Year Out Miami Celebration
June 11th, 2025: Two of Miami SCORES' poet-athletes—powered by Concacaf—took the mic & stole the show at the FIFA Miami World Cup Host Committee 1-Year Out celebration! In front of 500+ attendees, including international superstar Marc Anthony, Mayor Suarez and Mayor Levine Cava, our poet-athletes brought poetry, power & purpose—living out America SCORES key values of Teamwork, Leadership & Commitment!
Huge thanks to our community partners at the FIFA World Cup 26 Miami Host Committee, & Concacaf. This moment was more than a performance—it was a preview of how Miami’s youth are ready to shine on the global stage.
Miami SCORES stays dedicated to providing our poet-athletes with poetry opportunities, leadership, & competing with passion within Liberty City, Little Haiti, & beyond. With events like the Fall Frenzy, Jamboree, SCORES Cup, & a FIFA World Cup performance, this first season set the tone for something truly powerful in Miami.