Meet the Mentor: Coach Ramos and Coach Johanna

America SCORES New York’s network is often described as a family, and, sometimes, it’s meant literally.

Coaching for Change Academy youth-coach Johanna and her mom,Coach Esmerelda Ramos, are both incredible influences and a power coaching duo at Brooklyn’s PS 375. There, they embody a unique role for our poet-athletes -- Johanna is a mentor to her team but embodies the energy of the young people she coaches, while Coach Ramos provides guidance as a soccer coach as well as a “soccer mom.” 

“The other students love and enjoy the fact that I am also a ‘soccer mom’,” says Coach Ramos. “It helps them feel secure in a way where they know I will never let anything bad happen to them.”

The real power of this mother-daughter coaching team lies in their passion for poetry. Coach Johanna is the first ASNY high school participant to perform in our annual Poetry Slam with her poem “An Achievement” and inspired her team to take to the stage fearlessly.

“I teach my poet-athletes how to get their voices heard in a very respected and positive manner,” says Coach Johanna. “I love it when they work together as a team to problem solve, build respect and trust with each other.” 

Coach Johanna and Coach Ramos firmly believe that teamwork and mentorship are key in community building.

“Community is a big thing that we talk about and I’ve seen that Johanna’s ‘talk time’ for the kids has helped achieve my goal of building community for them,” says Coach Ramos. “I went back to getting my education a little late in life but my daughters pushed me to keep going and now these students also push me to be better. At the end through little moments, they show you why it’s worth it.” 

“These are your friends at the end of the day whether you like it or not,” reminds Johanna. “A team can’t be built out of hate but will be connected through love.” 

With her hopes of becoming a teacher, Coach Johanna takes her passion for writing into her lesson plans and is guided alongside her mom, Coach Ramos, and Brooklyn Senior Program Coordinator Sisi Metelus to build on her dreams.

“The students really enjoy having Coach Johanna and Coach Ramos as leaders in the classroom and on the field,” says Metelus. “I have watched them grow together the last few months and I can’t wait to see how much more Coach Johanna will excel in her education career.”