Reflections from the Social Good Summit: Localizing the Global Goals

Two days full of engaging presentations and speakers challenged us to imagine what kind of world we would like to see by the year 2030. The Global Goals laid out at the Social Good Summit seem vast in scope and ambition to achieve in such a short time, but for local nonprofits like America SCORES New York it is #2030Now. SCORES works hard to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 4 through Literacy in Action, a program at the grassroots level rooted in creating positive change for at-risk youth in the neighborhoods of Harlem and Washington Heights through a program that empowers students in a holistic combination of physical fitness, creative expression, and community service.

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Through America SCORES, students in Harlem and Washington Heights learn how to play soccer, write poetry, and conduct service learning projects in their community. SCORES builds healthy hearts and minds by providing youth with the tools they need to become self-confident on the field and in the classroom, while teaching them the value of hard work and the power of change in their community. Creating an environment of good health and well-being is imperative to SCORES’ mission and a core tenant of the Literacy in Action program.

Goal 4: Quality Education

Our Power of Poetry curriculum provides students with the tools they need to grow and improve their literacy skills through creative expression. It empowers students to be confident in their ability to read and write by giving them an avenue to express themselves outside the confines of a traditional education system. In working to fulfill the targets set out by Goal 4, our poet-athletes gain a greater understanding of how their education can have a positive impact for the social good and well-being of their environment.

Successfully meeting the targets of the UN SDG’s starts at the grassroots level, and SCORES is working diligently to achieve them from the ground up. 2030 won’t arrive for another 14 years, but now is a better time than ever to get involved and create positive social change for your community. For more information about the Social Good Summit, and how you can help to achieve the UN’s Global Goals please visit http://mashable.com/sgs/