Always giving: the Harlem Junior Tennis Program offers a helping hand to young, aspiring tennis players

Black Enterprise, Sept, 2004 by Laura Carlson

With the huge success of tennis players Serena and Venus Williams, it isn't any surprise that the larger-than-life role models have had an enormous impact on today's youth. More and more African American children are heading to nearby courts to learn the power of a strong backhand. Enabling these children from the inner city and beyond to reach both their athletic and educational goals can be a challenge, but it isn't impossible. The Harlem Junior Tennis Program (HJTP) has been achieving that objective by promoting education to children through the sport of tennis.

The HJTP has been incredibly successful in teaching children the power of an education that is both academic and athletic. Founded in 1972 by Bill Brown and Claude Cargill, the program was inspired by a desire for African Americans to become professional tennis players. Brown and Cargill's goal was net only to secure tennis scholarships for minority children but also to give them a chance to see something different. Finding money for college has always been a struggle, and the HJTP helps ease some of the financial strain that some athletically gifted children face. Most important, though, is the strong connection created through this family of mentors and friends.

Today, the HJTP helps young people excel in the sport of tennis, reach their educational goals, and learn the art of networking. Its mission continues to evolve to address, through mentoring and tutoring, the many challenges its participants face, while also providing free tennis instruction. The hope is to develop year-round life skills.

"This is a great way for aspirational kids to possibly move on to the professional ranks, and it facilitates playing levels for college scholarships," says Executive Director Dante Brown.

Brown and his team of mentors and coaches have enabled students to leave the program with a full understanding of how to achieve dreams they may have thought impossible. Children involved in HJTP have their report cards checked and must maintain a C average in ruder to continue in the program Brown's passion for finding a way to get these kids to reach to their full potential keeps the organization strong and growing.

Teaching minority children--from instruction on the courts to encouragement in the classroom--is just one of the many things the HJTP has succeeded in doing. Each child learns the art of sportsmanship through day-to-day experiences. Because of the ever-present need for money, BLACK ENTERPRISE and Pepsi continue to make charitable contributions to the HJTP.

"One thing many people don't realize is that there is a huge demand for minority players in nontraditional sports like tennis. It's one of the things that make this program so appealing," says Brown.

Professional tennis player James Blake is proof of the HJTP's success. James and his brother, Thomas, are both graduates of the program and both were All Americans at Harvard. They often return to the center and volunteer their time Their sister, Michelle Blake Barrett, is the perfect example of how the program promotes positive outcomes. Barrett was born into the world of tennis; the sport has always been a family activity. But being part of the program taught her even more about teamwork, social responsibility, and good sportsmanship. "I learned that there is strength in being an active member of a community, You have to participate in life and not just sit on the sidelines," she says. This philosophy led Barrett to a collegiate tennis career while she majored in sports marketing. Barrett gives the program credit for helping her assess her career objectives. "I was able to attain a summer internship at the USTA [because of] an ongoing relationship with the Harlem Junior Tennis Program."

Another highlight of the HJTP is that it's not only geared toward inner-city kids but children from the suburbs as well It has become a way for participants to make new friends from varied communities. Brown has seen firsthand the power of those interactions.

"A let of success stories come from kids who have never known about middle school programs or scholarships for prep schools," he says. "These sorts of introductions open a whole new door for these kids. We are investing in a child's future here at the HJTP."