New NJTL targets Hispanic youth in Northwest Arkansas

A new National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) program is coming to Arkansas, aiming to expand access to tennis for Hispanics and other underserved children in the state's northwest.

Mirna Ordoñez is launching United Tennis Arkansas in Springdale. The organization held a kickoff event on October 9 at the Charlie and Willie George Park, also called the C.L. “Charlie” & Willie Georgie Park.

“I invited everybody who wants to come because I believe that tennis is not a sport just for certain people; it’s for everybody,” Ordoñez said. “That's what we believe at United Tennis Arkansas. Everybody from any background is welcome to come and participate.”

USTA Foundation's NJTLs

The USTA’s NJTL network features more than 250 nonprofit youth development organizations that offer free or low-cost tennis and education programming to more than 160,000 under-resourced youth each year. NJTL is supported by the USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the USTA. Member chapters offer after-school tutoring focused on academic enrichment, a life-skills curriculum, and tennis.

United Tennis Arkansas will initially be offering an eight-week session that runs from Oct. 17-Dec. 5. The registration fee is $65. USTA Arkansas and USTA Southern have provided some funding for expenses and equipment.

“USTA Arkansas is extremely excited to see the formation of United Tennis Arkansas,” said USTA Arkansas Executive Director Deanna Garretson. “Northwest Arkansas has a vibrant and rapidly growing Hispanic population, and this partnership creates a meaningful path to foster genuine inclusivity and representation within our local tennis ecosystem.”

Ordoñez, who played tennis and soccer in college, has been an instructor with the USTA Arkansas Rally Cats program for the last two years. The Rally Cats program is a beginner junior tennis program for children ages 4-12.

Inspired by North Carolina's Gómez-Jordana

She was inspired to launch an NJTL by Belén Gómez-Jordana, a former news anchor in Arkansas who now lives in North Carolina. Gómez-Jordan has taught tennis for more than 20 years and founded the United Tennis Organization in 2021 in Gastonia, N.C.

“What I like about her model is that it combines tennis and education, which is what an NJTL is for,” Ordoñez said. “I thought that it was a great idea to bring that to Arkansas and be able to serve the Hispanic community and diverse communities here.”

The day after its launch event, United Tennis Arkansas set up a booth at the local Hispanic Heritage Festival in Springdale to draw more attention and collect registrations. The NJTL has already received coverage from several local Hispanic news outlets.

Northwest Arkansas is also home to the largest Marshallese community outside the Marshall Islands, and United Tennis Arkansas has reached out to the community in several ways.

“What stands out about this launch is the energy and support behind it,” Garretson said. “Mirna and her United Tennis Arkansas team have built incredible momentum in a short amount of time.”