Hello and my name is Chris LaRoche, and I’m very excited to announce that I’m the new Program Director for America SCORES Seattle!
SCORES is like my long-lost twin: I love working with kids, I love soccer, and I’m an avid writer and community activist. I worked for Seattle Public Schools for years -including most SCORES schools. I love learning about different people, cultures, and languages. I love writing and used to write for “Real Change”. Not only do I still play soccer, but I’m a referee and serve on the board of Seattle Recreational Adult Team Soccer League (RATS for short).Working for SCORES is like combining all my favorite things into one!
I’ve heard a lot about SCORES’ poetry slam and look forward to being a part of that and all the other activities we do!
Some Q&A with our new team member!
What was your favorite sport to play growing up?
When I was a kid, I was not very big, strong, or skilled, but I liked chasing a ball so for soccer was the sport for me! Now as a grown-up, I’m still not big, strong, or skilled, but I still play soccer every week. In fact, I barely know anything about any other sport, so if you want me to feel awkward, ask me about what I call “one of those weird ball things”.
Who is your favorite athlete?
My favorite athletes are those who realize that there’s more to life than a sport, and show real concern for issues close to their hearts and do something about it. Didier Drogba comes to mind, because he negotiated a truce to the civil war in his home country of Cote d’Ivoire ahead of the 2006 World Cup.
Who is your favorite writer, singer or poet?
My all-time favorite book is “At Play in the Fields of the Lord” my Peter Matthiessen. I also really like Sherman Alexie, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, e.e. cummings, Tom Waits, Dr. Seuss.
My favorite singers (who are really poets, right?) are Erykah Badu and Tom Waits. And my favorite poets include e.e.cummings and Dr. Seuss.
Do you have a favorite poem?
That’s easy!
r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
By e. e. cummings
r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
who
a)s w(e loo)k
upnowgath
PPEGORHRASS
eringint(o-
aThe):l
eA
!p:
S a
(r
rIvInG .gRrEaPsPhOs)
to
rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
,grasshopper;
who
a)s w(e loo)k
upnowgath
PPEGORHRASS
eringint(o-
aThe):l
eA
!p:
S a
(r
rIvInG .gRrEaPsPhOs)
to
rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
,grasshopper;
And a close follow-up, this isn’t a poem but part of a book that’s like a long poem:
From “Fox in Socks” by Dr. Seuss
What do you know about tweetle beetles? Well...
When tweetle beetles fight,
it's called a tweetle beetle battle.
And when they battle in a puddle,
it's a tweetle beetle puddle battle.
AND when tweetle beetles battle with paddles in a puddle,
they call it a tweetle beetle puddle paddle battle.
AND...
When beetles battle beetles in a puddle paddle battle
and the beetle battle puddle is a puddle in a bottle...
...they call this a tweetle beetle bottle puddle paddle battle muddle.
AND...
When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles
and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles...
...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle
bottle paddle battle.
What is your favorite food?
Aside from soccer, writing, and empowering kids to become future leaders, I like to garden. My favorite things to grow are spinach, raspberries and garlic. Otherwise I’m a theoretical vegetarian and adventure eater who likes to try new foods from around the world.
