Kim siblings bring free tennis, hope to kids near contaminated Picher area

If you’re concerned about the future of the U.S. when the next generation takes over, you needn’t be. Just look at Kate and Sejong Kim, a sister-and-brother combo in Joplin, Mo.

Kate is a Harvard tennis competitor, and Sejong is one of the top prep players in the state attending Joplin High School. They are using a passion for tennis and their concern for their fellow man to make a difference in their community and the communities around them.

Last fall, Kate saw a story in the local media about the disincorporated town of Picher, Okla., an abandoned town about 25 miles southwest of their hometown of Joplin. It broke her heart, and she decided to do something about it.

She founded the Enduring Scholars program, a nonprofit that has a purpose of providing “mentorships, resources and guidance to those affected by man-made or natural disasters in the Midwest states,” according to its website. Enduring Scholars is now a Community Tennis Association as well.

Contaminated Ground

Picher was once the site of a thriving lead- and zinc-mining industry. Beginning in 1917, the mines produced more than $20 billion in ore, including more than 50% of the lead and zinc used by the U.S. military in World War I. But when the mining stopped after World War II, much of the land left behind was contaminated with lead and zinc dust, which are known carcinogens.

The U.S. government spent billions of dollars cleaning up the area, but a tornado flattened the area and exposed much of the contaminants to the environment. Picher is now an abandoned community with no residents.

But young people from the surrounding area have started playing on the hills that are made entirely of contaminated dirt. They’ve even built dams to create swimming and fishing holes, bodies of water that are filled with contaminated water.

Kate saw the report about the area and decided to do something about it. She was joined almost immediately by Sejong. They were both concerned about the lack of concern for the safety of the area. They knew they needed to come up with another plan.

Safe Alternatives

Last fall, they started hosting tennis clinics every couple of months to draw attention to the situation. The clinics are free for participants. Racquets, balls and cones were all provided by Millennium Family Fitness in Joplin. The Kims have been pleasantly surprised with the attendance, which has averaged between 40 and 50 kids in the first four clinics.

A vast majority of the participants come from Joplin, though the plan in the near future is to partner with a nonprofit in Miami, Okla., which is about 10 miles south of Picher, to more directly help the kids that live in that area.