(photo: screen capture from YouTube video of Uniyah, DC SCORES)

by Jake Lloyd, DC SCORES
guest contributor

Bravery. It was the word of the 20th Annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam! held November 15-16th and featured 45 performances by elementary and middle schools across the District.

When Uniyah, a 10-year-old from Miner Elementary School, asked a crowd of 500 people to stand up with her during her poem "Bravery," it was clear how empowering poetry is for DC SCORES' 2,500 kids. Given the opportunity to express themselves in a non-judgmental setting in front of peers, teachers and family, these kids thrive. Their confidence soars. Relive the night with videos and photos, and if you have any free time during the holiday, check out this segment WUSA-9 did on H.D. Cooke Elementary leading up to the event.

Petworth-area schools made the neighborhood proud with inspiring, powerful performances, many of them about the social justice issues that myriad families in the area deal with on a daily basis. Powell Elementary's poem about immigration and Natalia L. of Brightwood Education Campus reminding us all to "Think."

Thank you for supporting these incredible poet-athletes, both in Petworth and across the District.

Miner Elementary's Uniyah performs her poem 'Bravery' at the 20th Annual Eastside DC SCORES Poetry Slam! held Nov. 16, 2017.

Think of DC SCORES on "Giving Tuesday" (November 28th)

When you return from the holiday, November 28th is your chance to give a kid a voice. Giving Tuesday is the world's biggest day of giving, and you can support DC SCORES kids such as Uniyah, Jermoni and Kenniya, Cristian, and Natalia with a donation to DC SCORES.

Please mark it on your calendar. Enjoy your holiday!