Saying Goodbye to ASNY: A Final Conversation with Zach Gomes and Chloe Wheeler
As America SCORES New York has grown over the last twenty years, we've been grateful for the staff who have given themselves wholly to their role, this organization, and the young people of New York City. Two of those incredible staff, former Program Director Zach Gomes and former Director of Soccer Programs Chloe Wheeler, have done just that.
As they wrapped up their time with ASNY at the close of summer, we sat down with them to reminisce on their favorite moments and want the future brings for the organization.
How did you get started with America SCORES/ ASNY?
Zach: "In 2014, I returned home to Albany, New York after my time serving as a U.S Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine was cut short due to unrest in the country. I still had an interest in doing volunteer youth development work and began searching for a new opportunity. In July of 2014, I started as an AmeriCorps volunteer serving D.C. SCORES and I loved it, so when an opportunity arose to work in the growing America SCORES NY program, I jumped at it. I interviewed with Shannon in June of 2015 and started as the Program Director in July!"
Chloe: "I started with ASNY after hearing about it through a soccer friend -- they knew I had always been interested in after-school/extracurricular programming and the unique blend of soccer, poetry, and civic engagement at ASNY really caught my interest. I had just completed my first year of AmeriCorps at a charter school and welcomed the opportunity to serve another term, this time with ASNY as an Up2Us Coach."
Can you pick a your favorite ASNY event?
Chloe: "The Jamboree has to be my favorite event because the feeling in the air was always just unmatched buzzing energy, lightness, and joy. Everyone wants to be there - excited to be with their friends, their coaches, and their families - their communities. There was always that one precious moment where, once things got started and were running smoothly, I’d go up to the top of the stadium at Columbia and look down at everything happening and just say to myself, 'This is what ASNY is about.'"
Zach: "This is a hard one because I honestly love them all. The energy of every game day - large and small - is something I cannot explain. Seeing the young poet-athletes smiling from ear to ear as they step onto the field is amazing. Fall Frenzy, Jamboree, Pancakes and Poetry...like Chloe said, each event that brings together the full ASNY community is incredibly special. In all honesty, the ASNY Community Poetry SLAM is my favorite event -- there is nothing quite like it. Young people know what's up and they have so many valuable things to say so watching each young person in the ASNY programs shine on stage is something incredibly special."
Do you have a favorite ASNY memory?
Zach: "My favorite memory of ASNY is not a singular moment but rather a feeling. The feeling you get when you walk down the street and a kid wearing an ASNY jersey yells from across the street “Yo Coach Zach!” The feeling of staying at the game day field after the program for an hour to chat with students and their families. The feeling of building something meaningful alongside the coaches, schools, and communities we work with. The feeling of being part of a loving community."
Chloe: "Ugh, so tough to choose! But I think I’ll go with a simple one because I think it embodies who ASNY is the most - a game day at Inwood Hill Park, when we would be setting up the fields and PS 98 would come running over the hill in their uniforms, cheering, blasting music, and laughing together. A lot of times, the kids would run up and give me a hug or a high five. Coaches and kids alike are just happy to be there. I can’t really put it into words, it just made me feel at home!"
How has ASNY changed you as a person, a player, and a coach?
Chloe: "ASNY has changed me in the sense that I’ve reflected more on my own identity so much in the past five years and the ASNY philosophy has become a huge part of who I am today. I consider myself to be an extremely competitive person, but the core values of ASNY --- teamwork, leadership, commitment, community, fair play -- have seeped into my own life as a player, coach, and person more than I could have expected. ASNY has made me more patient, open, and humble. Working here has taught me that being your authentic self is the most that someone can ask of you and the best thing you can do to make an impact. I have been able to take a step back and look at the big picture, how we all can make a difference through human connection, and come to an understanding through something as universal as soccer and something that values self-expression as much as poetry."
Zach: "At the beginning of my time with ASNY, I could have never imagined how much my time here would change me as a person. I have grown and learned so much about who I am in my professional and personal life. The people I met throughout my time at ASNY - the young people, the coaches, the teachers, the families, my colleagues - each of them helped me more fully realize who I am. I learned that in order to do the important work of youth development we must walk the walk...we must live in a way that uplifts the love and equity every child deserves. I am still working on “walking the walk” but ASNY has put me on the path."
What would you consider ASNY’s biggest accomplishment since we opened our doors twenty years ago?
Chloe: "Our biggest accomplishment? I would say how much we have grown but still maintained the close-knit community. That's what makes ASNY so special. It’s crazy to look back and remember how small our staff and program were when I first started until now, where we are in 3 boroughs and continuously growing. We’ve almost doubled in size since then! I also think the innovative nature of this creative, collaborative group of people (staff, coaches, young people, families, etc) and our willingness to take on new ideas and new challenges is what is so unique about us."
Zach: "There is so much that ASNY has accomplished that I am proud about. I think what stands out the most is our organization's shift to more fully realizing our role as part of a larger movement towards equity and social justice in New York City."
What are your hopes for ASNY in the future?
Chloe: "My hope for ASNY is to have an “ASNY community center” in every borough so that we have more freedom and more capacity to run more efficiently. It would be awesome to have an ASNY school in the city at some point - focused on SBYD and SJYD. I’d also love to see ASNY have more of a pipeline for our players to play at a high level, or ideally have a league of our own that plays in more competitive leagues!"
Zach: "ASNY’s future is bright and I am so excited to see how ASNY becomes more deeply ingrained in our existing communities and grows to work in new communities. By keeping love at the center and striving for equity in everything we do, I am hopeful ASNY will continue to grow as a space for young people to express themselves and change the world."
Do you have any advice for our poet-athletes?
Chloe: "My advice for our poet-athletes would be to approach every situation with an open heart, to not take yourself too seriously, and remember to laugh as much as you can, and to live in the moment! I remind myself of these things every day."
Zach: "To all our poet-athletes, I remind you that without your presence at ASNY our organization is incomplete. You are ASNY. You are the future and you are also the now. Raise your voices and demand to be heard, we will stand next to you and support you. What you have to say is important and needs to be heard. You are a part of the ASNY family for life, know we are always here to support you as you grow and prosper!"
Thank you Zach and Chloe for all you've done for our organization, our communities, and our young people -- you'll forever be part of the fabric of America SCORES New York and we can't wait to have you join us to celebrate ASNY soon!
