by Jake Lloyd, DC SCORES
guest contributor

Need a dose of inspiration? An evening that will provide hope and make you especially proud of the neighborhood you live in?

Look no further than the 20th Annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam! this Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 5-8pm inside Roosevelt High School's auditorium. The free event is open to anyone -- whether you can make it for the full three hours or just 30 minutes.

The Slam! is the premier, showcase poetry exhibition of the DC SCORES season. This is how it works: one DC SCORES school-based team after another takes the stage, where they perform two group poems and a solo poem. Each school's performance is approximately 5 minutes. The original poetry performed was written by the elementary and middle school students this fall during the after school program's poetry sessions. In total, 23 schools will perform on Nov. 15. A panel of volunteer judges gives scores for each performance, and at the end of the night trophies are awarded.

Most importantly, the Poetry Slam! gives kids an outlet to express their thoughts and innermost feelings about the world they live in. Poems range from serious to funny, from poignant to angry, and cover social justice issues, school and community pride, soccer -- the other aspect of DC SCORES -- and much more. The Slam! is emceed by DC SCORES Director of Writing and spoken word star Charity Blackwell, and special guests include D.C. United players and coaches and DC councilmembers.

Petworth is greatly represented at the DC SCORES Poetry Slam!. Among the neighborhood schools performing are Powell, MacFarland, Barnard, Raymond and Bruce-Monroe.

So stop by Roosevelt this Wednesday evening to feel proud of the kids in your community's schools. You'll leave inspired -- we guarantee it.