MEET OUR TEAM
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Veronica Collazo
Marketing and Communications Manager
Veronica is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland where she majored in Global Studies. Her interest in America SCORES was influenced by her time interning with the International Rescue Committee where she worked with refugee youth.
"I saw how children with varied experiences, cultures, and languages were able to come together through soccer. As an Americorps VISTA for America SCORES, I was able to contribute to the ASNY mission, improving youth lives through soccer and poetry. I'm proud to continue working alongside incredible individuals who are committed to upholding the ASNY mission!”
A favorite line from a favorite poem: "How they knew what we must know / Without knowing a page of it themselves." (Women by Alice Walker)
A favorite soccer memory: "I'm definitely working on my soccer expertise, but my favorite soccer memory has to be the first game day of the school year. Nothing matches that energy!"
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Charlyn Jordon
Grants Manager
Charlyn Jordon graduated with a degree in Financial Economics where she also played four seasons of women's soccer at Medgar Evers College. She also holds an MBA from Long Island University and hopes to pursue her doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance. Charlyn began her career at America SCORES as a coach before becoming the Grants Manager.
"Athletics has always been a huge part of my life so I often focus on opportunities where I can both grow as a player and as an instructor. When I first saw America SCORES in action, I was in awe of the program in its totality: the community, the peer-building, the promotion of fairplay and racial equity, etc.; I knew instantly I wanted to be a part of the team. Soccer has always been my "safe space" and that is exactly what America SCORES provides for the youth it serves. Our mission to create equitable opportunities for young people to experience sports, express themselves, and inspire positive change on and off the field is enshrouded in our understanding of the need to create holistic programming."
A favorite line from a favorite poem: "Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I Rise." (And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou)
A favorite soccer memory: "Any and every time I stopped a striker from scoring a goal.
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khalil murrell
Chief Operations Officer
As COO, Khalil oversees staff, programs and all internal operations. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. in Education Policy from Columbia University, Teacher’s College. After teaching high school ELA in Philly, Khalil moved into non-profit management where he focused on youth development and literary arts programs, including coordinating the poetry-in-the-schools program for the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Program and Festival. For the last five years, he’s worked as an education consultant with non-profits and schools, specializing in strategy development, capacity building as well as facilitation and training.
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John Riordan
Director of Development
John Riordan is a former journalist and public relations professional with a deep affinity for the world of soccer.
Growing up in Ireland, he played club soccer at youth, junior and intermediate (amateur) levels while also covering the game at domestic and international levels for the Irish Examiner.
After moving to New York to continue his journalism career in 2010, John became involved in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League through his work at the NY Shamrocks Soccer Club. Soccer, poetry and youth development are driving forces and John is looking forward to contributing positively to the lives of poet-athletes.
A favorite line from a favorite poem: "Unreal City/ Under the brown fog of a winter dawn / A crowd flowed over London Bridge, so many / I had not thought death had undone so many." (The Waste Land by TS Eliot)
A favorite soccer memory: "Cork City needed to win at Shelbourne at the end of the 2011 league campaign in order to claim the championship. The winning goal in the 94th minute drove us all wild!"
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Leo Estrada
Program Manager
The Bronx’s very own Leo Estrada has attended Monroe College to play Division 1 college soccer as a GoalKeeper. Majoring in Business Administration well as a minor in Sports Marketing.
“I started coaching at the age of 19 in the Bronx, and then started expanding all over NYC. I worked with Chelsea, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Gatorade, to help develop inner city young athletes. I have a passion for coaching middle school and high school athletes to help them push themselves to another level and prepare them to play both academy and college level soccer, I also get involved with community service and giving back to my neighborhood”
A favorite line from a favorite song: “They got money for war, but can't feed the poor” -2pac
A favorite memory: Taking Saturday Night Lights students (most are 15 to 21-year-old students) to our annual corporate soccer tournament, SCORES Cup in 2021. We won 2nd place and it was a huge accomplishment.