Staff Spotlight

Chris Lantigua

Chris Lantigua first heard of America SCORES New York when he was an 8-year-old at P.S. 153 in Harlem. He was encouraged to join by his sister’s teacher, who felt it would keep him out of trouble and allow him to connect with his classmates. Despite his first day nerves, Chris found comfort in his sister’s existing involvement in SCORES and the encouragement he received from his coaches. His love for drawing was lauded and he was asked to draw posters for the team, eventually helping him find his place among his teammates and at school. Chris, now a Program Coordinator at America SCORES New York, looks back fondly on his time as a poet-athlete at PS 153. “America SCORES taught me all about working with others as a team,” Chris said, “it also helped me open up more and be more social with those around me. I still have friends from my 3rd to 5th grade SCORES team.” Poetry SLAM remains one of Chris’s favorite SCORES events-- the excitement, the sheer scale of the event, and all the work

“America SCORES that goes into each and every poem, all experiences which are unmatched. He even taught me all about working with others as a team” received the prestigous Committment Badge at SLAM one year! America SCORES allowed Chris to develop as a leader, and construct his own plans for the future. His passion for service-learning, introduced to him by SCORES, is reflected in his volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club and Let’s Get Ready, a program that prepares high school juniors for the SATs. Now, in his final year at Lehman College, Chris wants to pursue a career in education and eventually become an elementary school teacher. He hopes he can share the tools that SCORES gave him with future students in his community! Poet-athlete Chris with PS 153!

POET SPOTLIGHT

We Have Our Moments

by Maria, Hamilton Grange Middle School

We laugh and play and have fun everyday We joke and have luck but sometimes we don’t get along You know I love you I will never let you go I get mad at you but I can’t hold my anger for too long Because whenever I do I feel like I did you wrong Because remember this, if we are a million miles away I still feel like I’m with you Everyday a piece of you stays in my heart, Never forget me, I’m begging you please If you ever need me I will be there in a breeze