Vision
The vision that underlies and motivates the NJTL Community Building Initiative is the belief that our local NJTL chapters can use traditional and non-traditional tennis facilities, coupled with innovative programming and partnerships, to become vital community resources in neighborhoods undergoing dramatic societal changes – also known as “Shifting Sands” communities. A Shifting Sands community is a neighborhood undergoing dramatic societal change due to immigration, rezoning, natural catastrophe, gentrification, economic downturn, etc. The medium to long-term expectation of this initiative is that it will enhance and strengthen the capacity of selected NJTL chapters, so that they become indispensable institutions in their cities and communities.
Many of our NJTL chapters have already made themselves into important resources to the communities in which they work by going far beyond just offering tennis. They serve as safe havens, surrogate parents, translators, mentors, coaches, critical after-school providers who augment the mission of the local schools, and social service connectors for children and their families. By recognizing these roles and seeking partnership opportunities with residents and other organizations, our chapters have the assets and the opportunity to make an even bigger impact on communities where the disenfranchised and the voiceless often suffer from the isolation of poverty.
Goals and Objectives
1. To enhance and strengthen the capacity of selected NJTL chapters to become indispensable institutions in their communities and cities.
2. To serve as important resources to the communities in which they work by going far beyond just offering tennis lessons, but rather as safe havens, surrogate parents, translators, mentors, coaches, after school providers who augment the mission of local schools, as well as social service providers for area families.
3. To make an even bigger impact on communities where the disenfranchised and the voiceless often suffer from the isolation of poverty.
4. To connect with other area organizations to provide for the comprehensive needs of the community.
Mission Statement
Recreation facilities can serve as multi-purpose, shared community assets for ethnically and economically diverse constituents, and to increase the number of people who realize the social and health related benefits of tennis.
Desired Outcomes
1. Improved communications and an increased number of personal relationships among community residents and non-residents.
2. Expanded use of existing community tennis facilities for tennis, social, educational and civic purposes.
3. Stronger NJTL Chapters in terms of management skills, financial resources, and community relevance.
4. Enhanced perception of the target community both internally and externally.
About the Five Projects
Each site will report on their activities over the past 18 months. The following is a brief project summary of each site.
| NJTL Chapter | Key Partners | Issues/Programming |
| Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Philadelphia, PA
| Philadelphia Reads, Journey Home, PNC Bank, The Dept. of Recreation | School dropout and juvenile delinquency which leads to crime and violent gang activity; limited access to after school programs, and lack of adult supervision |
| MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation Durkeeville Historic Neighborhood, Jacksonville, FL
| Jacksonville Children’s Commission, the Sheriff’s Office, Durkeeville Historical Society, LISC Jacksonville, The Oaks at Durkeeville | Financial stability for families through education and services, credit repair, budgeting, and first-time home buyer programs |
| Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation Sherman Park Neighborhood, Milwaukee, WI
| Sherman Park Community Assn, Wells Fargo Bank, The Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship, and the Milwaukee Department of Workforce Development | Revitalization of Sherman Park through expanded need-based programming around financial literacy, entrepreneurialism, and workforce development to residents |
| Tenacity, Inc. East Boston, Boston, MA
| The Umana-Barnes Middle School, the East Boston Community Health Center, and the E.B. YMCA | Obesity and its attendant risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, especially among recent Latino immigrants |
| Tennis Memphis Whitehaven Neighborhood, Memphis, TN
| Parks & Rec, Police Dept CoAct Unit, High school, Apartment building | Gangs and lack of |
This initiative is an innovative effort to re-imagine the role of recreational facilities in changing communities. It builds on the work, experience, and assets of strong tennis and education community organizations. Its innovation is the vision that these organizations can and should play a larger role in fostering social integration through shared active space in communities undergoing dramatic change. This initiative is founded on the proposition that community recreational facilities programmed with the involvement of the communities that they serve provide not only much needed recreational opportunities, but also provide space for disparate groups within a community to find common ground and common purpose.