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USL Oakland Roots

America SCORES and Oakland Roots and Soul SC Unite to Inspire Brookfield Elementary Youth

September 22, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Oakland Roots News Release


Oakland, CA - America SCORES Bay Area (SCORES) and Oakland Roots and Soul SC are excited to announce a special joint event highlighting the transformative impact of sports on youth development. This collaborative initiative will feature a player appearance by Johnny Rodriguez of Oakland Roots SC, a soccer team deeply rooted in community engagement. SCORES goal is to increase awareness of their Field of Dreams initiative at Brookfield Elementary in East Oakland, that links community development with youth development. Partnering alongside the Oakland Unified School District, the creation of accessible green play spaces at public schools benefits the whole community and promotes physical activity, free play, organized sports, and a new place for community gatherings.

America SCORES Bay Area is a dynamic after-school program that serves as a force for positive change in the Bay Area. Thriving for over two decades, SCORES innovative fusion of soccer, poetry, and leadership development has impacted the lives of thousands of youth, including 19 Oakland schools. After successfully transforming more than 10 asphalt to turf sites in San Francisco, SCORES is now working to make dreams come true in Oakland with their first field at Brookfield Elementary. This is a notable endeavor in an area that has produced sports icons like NBA player Damian Lillard, who himself is from Brookfield Elementary. We aim to inspire our youth to achieve their dreams through our Field of Dreams initiative.

Date and Time: September 27th, 2023 from 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM.

Empowering Oakland Unified School District through Partnership and Commitment

This event's primary goal is to inspire meaningful change igniting positive change by showcasing the challenges faced by young athletes playing on complex, dark asphalt soccer fields. Through a dynamic joint venture with SCORES and Oakland Roots and Soul SC, we aim to draw attention to this issue and offer a solution through the SCORES Field of Dreams initiative. Our ambition is to cultivate increased funding from individual donors and significant contributors for the Field of Dreams while raising overall awareness about SCORES after-school programs and mission, which directly benefits the schools within Oakland Unified School District.

Empowering Youth through Sports and Inspiration

The event's schedule is designed to actively engage the children and create memorable experiences:

The Roots player will coach interactive sessions, including scrimmage sessions, drills, and relay races, fostering a sense of teamwork and enthusiasm.

A heartwarming moment will unfold as the children share their thoughts on the SCORES Field of Dreams initiative with the Roots player. This interaction will be captured through video and still photography, showcasing the power of youth voice.

Poetry from a Poet-Athlete - a SCORES kid reads their Field of Dreams poetry to the player and/or OUSD representative.

In a moving finale, the Roots player will address the Brookfield experience, reflecting on playing conditions and underlining the profound significance of the Field of Dreams initiative for the kids and the community. This impactful moment will be documented with both stills and video.

John Susaki, Director of Communications at OUSD to speak their opinion on our initiative's impact on Oakland schools and Brookfield Elementary.

Mike Geddes, to talk about the Field of Dreams for Brookfield.

Jonny Orozco's journey with SCORES marked the beginning of his passion for soccer.

A talk with Corrin Haskel, teacher of 27 years at Brookfield and coach to the poet-athlete girls team for SCORES.

For additional information, to make a donation, or to explore sponsorship opportunities for the Brookfield Field of Dreams project, please visit their website at www.AmericaScoresBayArea.org scroll down to Field Of Dreams for Brookfield Elementary.

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