Learn – We will incorporate a “World Cup” curriculum to camp allowing the participants to learn about other countries and prepare to travel and play in the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world.

Serve – By providing guided meaningful opportunities to serve their communities, children develop socially responsible behaviors and aspirations at an early age. This helps motivate students to believe in themselves and invest in their education.  During camp the students will participate in a service project helping them to experience the joys of serving.

Play – Soccer is the universal sport accessible to all children regardless of background and physical characteristics. Aside from increased aerobic capacity and physical fitness, students who play soccer benefit from lessons in sportsmanship, discipline, problem solving and teamwork.

The Camps will be held at the beautiful adidas Village in North Portland.

adidas Village 5060 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR 97217

Dates

JUNE 17TH-21ST

JULY 8TH-12TH

Daily Schedule (M-W, F)

8:30-9:00 – Check-in

9:00-10:00 – Morning Soccer Drills

10:00-10:15 – Healthy Snack Break and Nutrition Focus

10:15-11:00 – Creative Writing Session (World Cup Theme)

11:00am-Noon – World Cup Soccer Tournament

Noon – Parent pick-up

To register visit our camp page.

We asked all of them all a series of questions about the trip and we have listed the Q&A below:

1. Please share what it means to you to have been selected as a participant in the National Poetry SLAM.

Sebastian: “I felt like I was special!” 

Victoria: “That I am a poet.  I can write poetry without being worried because I am blessed so I know I can do it.”

Coach Jared: “It was an incredible privilege to have the oppurtunity to accompany our young poets to New York City! My duties at AC Portland are a lot of times administrative in nature. I’m always wishing that I could be out having fun with the kids, and this trip was a visual reminder of the scale of the impact that the AC Portland curriculum is having on our young students.”

2.  What this your first flight?  If so, how was it?

Sebastian: “Yes, it was fun.  I liked when we took off and landed.”

Victoria: “Yes it was and I thought it was relaxing but my ears got plugged.  Its ok because they popped so now I feel comfortable on a plane.”

Coach Jared: “Being able to accompany Victoria and Sebastian on their first flights was a tremendous experience. I remember flying at their age, and I always had so much fun. They were tremendous travelers who soaked in all the sights, smells, and stale air that airports provide. We laughed, sang songs, and played excessive amounts of uno on the flights. And we had to eat some hot dogs when we had a layover in Chicago.”

3.  What was your favorite part about New York City?

Sebastian: “Going to the biggest Toys R Us in the entire world” 

Victoria: “Going to the New York Stock Exchange and getting the red carpet treatment.  I also liked Times Square with the big tv’s and all the funny people dressed up like cartoon characters.  And of course, the Statue of Liberty.”

Coach Jared: “My favorite part of NYC was definitely the Poetry SLAM performance. There were several reasons for this The trip wasn’t all fun and games. The kids had to prepare for the performance like a heavy weight fight. Mornings were spent grinding away in rehearsals, and at night any free time would be spent perfecting their amazing poetry. It was incredible to see the level of focus, commrodary, and excitement the kids showed in the leadup to the SLAM. Once the slam came around the kids were like performance veterans who waited until the big stage to give their best rendition. I was backstage with the kids and to see all of them cheering each other on. Victoria and Sebastian were having a blast, and everyone nailed their performances. The energy was that of a Timber’s home game at Jeld-Wen field. It was an amazing night full of laughs and self empowerment.”

4.  Did you meet anyone new?  If so, who were they and what did you learn from them?

Sebastian: “Yes, I met Evan from San Francisco.  He is kind and fun to play with.  I also met Avante from St. Louis.  He was funny and had a good sense of humor.”

Victoria: “Yes I met a girl named Tova.  She taught me how to make better movements with my poem and I met some new friends.  They were kind and fun.  I learned they had really good poems and they were not afraid to share them.”

Coach Jared: “While I was there I met a lot of educators from all of the different cities that America SCORES programming is run in. It was great to learn about the circumstances and environments that their students have to deal with everyday, and how the America SCORES curriculum provides a mechanism for kids to openly discuss the hardships and perils of education cutbacks, and lack of funding in underserved areas of the United States. The curriculum provides a create outlet to discuss emotions about family, friends, and childhood. To hear these aspects from the other chaperones made me realize how essential and universal the programming is for students around the country.”

Laurelee Wells, Site Coordinator from Whitman, had this to say about the trip, “New York City with one of my America Scores students, what an amazing opportunity!  Being interviewed and chosen to perform at the National Poetry Slam has forever changed the life of our selected student Victoria.  Not only has she grown in confidence and public speaking skills she had the chance to meet students from all over the country.  Being a part of this program opened my eyes to see how special this week was for Victoria, seeing her experience her first plane ride and hotel stay is something I will never forget.  Watching her excitement and inquisitiveness at all the experiences she had, seeing the statue of liberty, hearing everyone on her SW flight wish her luck and seeing time square at night was truly a lifetime experience.  Seeing her light up on stage brought me goosebumps and seeing her mother tear up made this trip complete.”

Special thanks to America SCORES for helping make this trip happen for our students.  Of course, to Jared and Laurelee for taking the time to travel with the students to New York City.  We would also like to thank Nathan Carlson who donated two plane tickets for the two mothers to attend the National Poetry Slam.  His generosity, along with some great help from Alaska Airlines made their dream of seeing their kid perform a reality.  And finally,  we want to thank all of our great site coordinator and coaches at AC Portland.

On Friday, March 22nd, AC Portland held its second annual Spring Coaches Training event at the adidas Village in Portland, OR.

We had over 35 people come from our eight area elementary schools to learn how our program operates.  We were also very excited to welcome our newest partner, Hacienda CDC, to the training event.

“We had a great mix of returning coaches and site coordinators to help encourage the dialog and learning with our new coaches.  I am very excited because each season the caliber of coaches we are recruiting goes up, ” says Ben Dudley, Executive Director of AC Portland.

Preparing our coaches to run the US Soccer Foundation’s Soccer For Success program is always a lot of fun.  The coaches actually go out to the beautiful adidas village field and spend a few hours going through the drills.

“We actually run a full session with the coaches to model for them what we want to see at their sites.  We learned this training technique from the Foundation and continue to utilize it here in Portland.”

Another aspect of our training is behavior management.  Our students have just spent seven hours in the classroom and most of them are very hyper when they arrive.  Being prepared ahead of time and knowing some key behavior management techniques can make a huge difference in our coaches ability to be successful on the field with the students.  AC Portland is proud to be piloting a new behavior management technique this Spring using a Yellow and Red card system.

“We believe it gives the students something they can visually see and know that they are being warned when they are not behaving according to their team learning contract.”  

Each coach received a referee wallet with a yellow and red card.  Inside the wallet was a piece of paper with the daily program schedule.  

“This is another tool to help our coaches be prepared.  If they fill out the schedule and follow it, then they can be confident that they are prepared and have a plan.”  

We also spent time training our 4th and 5th grade coaches on the America SCORES service learning curriculum.  The curriculum, known as Writing for the Community, is an opportunity for students to engage in a multi-week service project.  Instead of simply going out and doing a project, the students must learn about the need, develop a plan, pick a project, research how to help, do something to help and then report back to their community what they have done.  This approach provides a rich learning experience for our students.

A very special thanks to adidas America for allowing us to use their amazing facility for our training event.

For Villa residents, gaming is a profitable source of fundraising.

On February 16th, Villa hosted its second annual ‘FIFA for Freedom’ tournament in an effort to raise money for KIVA, a microfinance company that gives loans to third world entrepreneurs, and AC (Athletic Club) Portland, a local organization dedicated to helping student athletes.

Paul Auxier, junior, commissioned the tournament and believes it is in the dorm’s love for soccer, video games and helping The community that drives their success.

“Villa has such a passion for soccer and what’s great about the tournament is we combine that love with great causes such as AC Portland and KIVA,” Auxier said.

The tournament raised $500 for AC Portland, enough to support one student-athlete for an entire season.

“AC Portland is working hard to help Portland area elementary school kids and to have the support of students from University of Portland means so much to them,” Executive Director of AC Portland, Ben Dudley, said, “It gives them a role model and a goal to one day attend college themselves.”

This is just one example of UP students implementing the school’s mission statement in the community around them. Recent graduate and current AC Portland intern, Danielle Foxhoven, can attest to UP providing tools for students to utilize after four years on The Bluff.

“As a part of the women’s soccer team we were a big part of the Ronald McDonald house and as a part of the Business School we were always asked to be a part of community service projects.” Foxhoven said.  “It was little things like that that really helped me to realize how much the community needs help and I wanted to use my resources and network to help fulfill that need.”

UP and AC Portland were initially connected when Foxhoven worked with the organization during an equipment drive with Equipment Across Continents, a nonprofit Foxhoven founded.

Villa’s connection to AC Portland started last year when Auxier, Villa Maria’s Service & Justice Coordinator wanted to stimulate more involvement in the organization and volunteer his time for a cause within the community.

“The FIFA for Freedom tournament was the first fundraiser that happened on our behalf by UP students, but my hope would be for more in the future,” Dudley said.

When Villa’s passions coincide with community need, it makes it that much easier to work together. Villa’s FIFA for Freedom tournament is one example of Auxier’s favorite quotes he heard from 2012 graduate Kurt Burning regarding service, “For every great idea you have, there are 100 other great ideas, what makes yours different is putting it into action,” Burning said. Auxier agrees that students need to continue to stay involved and help in their community.

By Connor Snashall – UP Student and Villa Maria Hall Resident

Through Values Inside Out, Sephora’s Stores will Partner with Local Non-profit Organizations to Help them Achieve their Missions

March 26th, 2013, San Francisco, CA – Sephora Americas announced today the launch of Values Inside Out (VIO), a visionary partnership program matching Sephora stores across America with non-profit organizations (NPP) in their own communities.  Under this program, each store’s team of cast members (Sephora’s term for sales associates) chose a local non-profit they want to help through raising awareness, providing funds and contributing their own “sweat equity” to enable that organization to fulfill their mission over the course of 2013.

“AC Portland feels very lucky to have been chosen by both the Washington Sq and Clackamas Town Center stores!  A partnership like this is a game changer for us.  You know when a company is willing to put sweat equity into a partnership that they are doing it for the right reasons.  Sephora is a leader in their field and we are excited to have them as a partner for AC Portland,”  says Executive Director of AC Portland, Ben Dudley.

There will be several opportunities and events through the coming months including:

March 23 – Community Awareness Day

June 1 – Introduction of special VIO Product

July – Sweat equity month

Events designed as partners with Sephora

Mary Herald, Sephora’s Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Education,  said, “At Sephora, our vision for Values Inside Out is to inspire and engage our teams to play a part in making a difference in their communities, and to do so in a way that is completely aligned and integrated with our Values. We know that beauty is both inside and out and we know our teams will feel proud of what they accomplish for their communities and even more so where they work.”

The initiative begins this week, as participating Sephora stores across the country announce their partnership with local non-profits.  A list of stores and their non-profit partners is posted at www.sephora.com/valuesinsideout

Sephora plans to measure the results of the VIO Program annually by the amount of funds raised by each non-profit as a result of its partnership in the program and the number of volunteer hours contribued by Sephora cast members during the year.  To learn more about the program, please visit www.sephora.com/valuesinsideout

About Sephora Americas:

Since 1998, Sephora has been TRANSFORMING BEAUTY in the U.S. Today, Sephora Americas operates more than 300 stores in the U.S. and Canada as well as the world’s top beauty website, Sephora.com. In 2010 Sephora expanded into Latin America, where it now has  stores in Mexico and  in Brazil.  Sephora is well known for its unique retail concept, which is rooted in its distinctive open-sell store design, the beauty expertise of its sales consultants and, most importantly, its unparalleled combination of over 200 classic and emerging brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, color, fragrance, bath & body, smilecare, and haircare, as well as Sephora’s own private label. Sephora has also been recognized as a leading digital brand and continues to advance this arena through mobile and social media initiatives including an active Facebook page, BeautyTalk-its online beauty community, its mobile site and Apps. In addition to its North and Latin American business and its initiative with jcp, which includes more than 300 Sephora inside jcp locations, Sephora today has more than 1,660 stores within 29 countries. Sephora was founded in France in 1970 and acquired in 1997 by Paris-based LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading luxury products group. For further information, please visit www.sephora.com

“This is our second year in a row to send students to the National SLAM.  AC Portland is proud to run the America SCORES program in 8 area elementary schools across the Portland Metro area,”  says Executive Director Ben Dudley.  “ We truly believe that there is great power in combining sports and academics.  When we use things like soccer to encourage kids, and then use that same encouragement in the classroom, it is a receipe for success.”

Sebastian is a 5^th grade student at James John elementary school in St. Johns.  This is his second year to be in our program.   The AC Portland program is operated in partnership with Lifeworks NW.  Lifeworks NW operates the SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) after school program at James John Elementary school.

Local North Portland activist Michael Verbout writes, “I am so very grateful that students in North Portland have the special opportunity to be involved with and reap the numerous benefits from involvement in AC Portland.  AC Portland telegraphs a powerful message of what they care about.  A Holistic focus on our youth, the benefits are almost endless.  Individuals maximizing potential.  Helping to shape skills and instill characteristics that will serve them well now and into the future.”

Victoria is a 4^th grade student at Whitman Elementary school.  Whitman is in South East Portland.  Victoria is also a second year student in our program.  Along with her sister, who also participates in AC Portland, both of these young girls mother is actually one of their coaches.  The AC Portland program is operated in partnership with Impact NW.  Impact NW operates the SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) after school program at Whitman Elementary school.

“This is truly one of the great examples of how strong parents make for strong kids.  Olympia, the mom, is one of our best coaches.  She has so much passion for all of the kids in the program.  We are so proud that her daughter can represent AC Portland and the entire Portland community in New York City. “  Ben Dudley

If you are interested in helping sponsor our students and their families to attend the event, please consider donating to AC Portland.

Donate

Over 75 people from all over the Portland soccer scene packed into the room to enjoy browsing through auction items like Lionel Messi signed photos and wine tastings all across the Oregon wine country, some delicious Casa Del Matador appetizers, food and drinks, and support AC Portland. There were smiles all around and only a few small fights over auction items (which were all resolved peacefully!). In fact, we had so much fun we are already looking forward to next year’s RAISE event!

We would like to extend a special thanks to the following people and organizations:

CMD Agency for helping AC Portland with the entire event! It wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the hours of hard work you put in.

adidas America for all of the support you have given to us and to the kids in the program. Not only are we better for your help and support, but the kids in our program are also better for the support you provide.

Andy Carson for hosting the event, you made it an unforgettable night.

The Portland Timbers who have supported AC Portland from the beginning. You guys help make AC Portland something special.

All of the auction item donors. What an outstanding auction list we had! It was amazing to experience generosity towards a great cause like we did from you all.

Eric Berg and Danielle Foxhoven for working so hard to make the silent auction happen!  Also, Jared Hoffman for holding AC Portland together while the rest of the team focused on RAISE2013.

And lastly, we would like to say thank you to everyone who came out to support the event! You made it a perfect night.

By coming out to RAISE 2013 you helped further AC Portland’s mission to transform communities through soccer. For all of this and for so much more, we are so grateful. Thank you and we cant wait to see you all again soon!

Special thanks to all the kind people from CMD Agency who helped make this video possible.  Your kindness, professionalism and talent helped bring much needed awareness to our wonderful kids and these programs.

Hopeful girls of all levels, ages and playing experiences are excited about the new league! We are excited to announce that one of these excited girls is one of our interns, Danielle Foxhoven who has recently signed with the Portland Thorns! Dani has been working for AC Portland since she returned from playing professionally in Russia this past September. She graduated from the biggest-little school in the great northwest, which is fortunately for us, just around the corner, the University of Portland. During her career at UP she was an All American, a LOWES Senior Class Award Finalist and a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year. Not to mention, finished with the fourth most goals in UP history. Needless to say we are proud to have her as part of our staff! We are so proud in fact that we sat Dani down to ask her some questions that only we could feel comfortable enough to ask her about!

Q) Dani, how do you feel about the opportunity to play with Alex Morgan andChristine Sinclair?

A) It is my dream-come-true. I have been lucky enough to play with Alex Morgan a few times with youth national teams, but she is at a different level now, so I am really excited to be able to play with her again. And Christine Sinclair is my role model. I think that she is the best female soccer player in the world right now and I feel so honored and humbled to have the opportunity to learn from her and play with her.

Q) We know you played in Russia last season, how is your mentality different starting this season than it was last season?

A) My mentality was very different this time last year then it is today. Last year I had just graduated from school at UP and was so excited to be starting as a professional soccer player. I was drafted to the Philadelphia Independence and just a few weeks before the season was supposed to start we were told that the league was folding, and that was a big set back to me. The only option I had was to play overseas or to go back home and do odd trainings with teams who could use an extra player. So, I put all my effort into playing overseas and getting prepared for that. When the opportunity came to play in Russia I felt I couldn’t pass it up. So I went! My mindset was different because even though I was scared to move across the world, I was prepared to do it to play. Now I have learned a lot about professional soccer and I am just excited to play for the city I love.

Q) If there was one piece of advice that you could give the girls in our program what would it be?

A) The opportunities for girls to become professional athletes are growing every year! Women like Megan Rapinoe, Lindsey Horan and Christine Sinclair are paving the way for the next generation of girls to be that much better and get that much more success. So to the young girls, who see those women standing on the olympic podium with gold medals, set your goals on that podium with them. Set your goals to be the best at what you love doing, then put in honest hard work and someday you will get everything you have worked so hard to achieve! This is the best time in the history of the world to be a girl with goals because you can make them happen.