The History of HJTEP

The Harlem Junior Tennis Program was founded in 1972 by Bill Brown and Claude Cargill with the help of generous benefactors such as Mutual of New York, and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. They were frustrated that few urban children had the opportunity to explore and excel in tennis. It was usually considered a “country club sport”, so they decided to provide tennis training to Harlem youth. They believed that children who learn to appreciate tennis as a lifetime sport develop self-discipline, sportsmanship, self-esteem and social skills. The program has proved them to be right. In 1979, HJTEP established the Homework Club and began coaching students to apply these personal skills to school as well as tennis. With the dedication of a wide variety of supporters, coaches, parents, board members, and many other volunteers, HJTEP has grown into a program that now accepts 160 children each winter and as many 300 children each summer.

One of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program’s proudest success stories is that of World Class Tennis Player James Blake. Blake is a spokesperson for the organization and began playing tennis at the age of five at the Harlem Junior Tennis League. He was inspired to pursue tennis after hearing his role model, Arthur Ashe, speak to a group at HJTEP. In 1997 he was the number one ranked junior tennis player in the world. He attended Harvard University for a couple of years and turned pro in 1999. It isn’t so much the victories or playing style that makes James Blake a fan-favorite, rather it’s his undying spirit, classy behavior and never-give-up attitude.

HJTEP knows there are more stories like James Blake waiting to be born in and around Harlem and the organization looks forward to finding and developing them. In the words of Arthur Ashe, “we are teaching the game of life through the game of tennis.” It’s about stressing education and character building on and off the court.

The Need for HJTEP

Most inner-city schools lack the resources to offer extracurricular programs that wealthier school districts and private schools offer as a matter of course. In particular, children are increasingly left without opportunities for structured, positive physical activity as schools are forced to cut athletic teams and even physical education classes. At HJTEP, they learn to keep their body’s healthy, work to maintain good grades, set personal and educational goals, and take pride in their achievements. It also teaches participants new skills that can translate into summer jobs and college scholarships. HJTEP nurtures each child’s interest, energy and ability into a gift that can open doors and form the basis for a positive way of life.

The Program

We conduct the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program on four tennis courts at the 143rd Street, 369th Harlem Armory Center in the center of Harlem. For a participation fee of $200 each session (with fees waived when necessary), New York City children from the ages of seven to eighteen can participate in any of tennis sessions: Fall Session, Winter Session, Spring Session and Junior Tournament Team. Summer Camp is offered five days a week, 9-5, seven weeks for a fee of $650 . In addition, all academic year participants benefit from our Educational Support Initiative, which includes the Homework Club, the Secondary and College Resource Center, and the Computer Center. Participants receive two hours of tennis instruction five days a week. After their on-court time, they can also receive two hours of academic tutoring. There are also regularly scheduled tournaments with other tennis teams in the New York area.

The Educational Support Initiative is fundamental to its positive impact on children. We require participants to earn at least a “C” average in school, and report cards are checked. The Homework Club, in which volunteers provide free one-on-one tutoring, helps students maintain and improve their grades. The Computer Center, which needs enhancements, gives children, many of who do not have computers at home, access to the Internet and a chance to build computer skills essential for school.

We emphasize preparation for higher education and college enrollment. Through our Secondary and College Resource Center, we provide encouragement and information about high schools, colleges, admission procedures and financial aid. We also offer SAT review courses to college-bound high school junior and seniors and help our strongest tennis players write letters of introduction to college coaches. One of our great sources of pride is the number of our alumni who have enrolled in four-year colleges and were awarded tennis scholarships.

In the past, HJTEP has operated seasonally, offering tennis instruction and educational support only during the academic year. In 1997, we piloted a summer program and since then have operated on a part-time basis during July and August. Based on the pilot’s success and the great demand for quality summer programming in our neighborhood, this year we plan to run a full-time summer tennis camp program for 150-300 children, using the outdoor courts at Howard Benett Park in Harlem and at Fordham University in the Bronx.

In addition to the core group of 100 campers, another 200 children from the summer programs in the community will receive one hour of tennis instruction per week from HJTEP. Our partnerships with these programs will give our campers access to recreational facilities at other community organizations, such as the swimming pool the Jackie Robinson Community Center in Harlem.

Proposed Enhancement of the Educational Support Initiative

HJTEP’s Educational Support Initiative holds great potential for a significant long-term impact on our participants. By tapping into young people’s enthusiasm for athletics and building on discipline, confidence and self-awareness they learn through tennis, we can help them succeed in school and put them on the path to higher education. We have expanded our Center Court Enrichment Center, which includes several computers and printers for student use. The children can research colleges on the Internet, write essays for school, experiment with spreadsheets and graphic presentations and use educational software. This gives them the opportunity to become comfortable and proficient with the technological demands in today’s school and work force.

Population Served

The program is open to young people between the ages of seven and eighteen who reside in the greater New York City area. Applications are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Located in Central Harlem, HJTEP primarily serves low-income children from the surrounding inner-city neighborhoods. The quality of the program attracts some middle-income children as well, resulting in an economically diverse group. Approximately 70% of our participants are African-American, 15% Hispanic, 5% Caucasian, 2% Asian, and 8% other races. Sixty percent are boys and 40% are girls. Some of our tennis players are physically and/or mentally challenged.

We coordinate our program with other locally based youth programs and services to give Central Harlem residents the highest quality diverse neighborhood sports and education programs possible.

Measurements of our Success

The Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program’s growth over the last 36 years is a testament to the strength of our program. HJTEP started in 1972 with a few children and very little money. Belief in the mission of the program is evidence of its positive impact on participants. The generosity of a few donors and the dedicated efforts of a small staff and many volunteers are the reason for the continued growth, stability and longevity.

Approximately 23% of HJTEP participants go on to be awarded college tennis scholarships. Some of the colleges our alumni have attended are Duke, Howard, Syracuse, Tulane, Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Temple, Rutgers, Georgetown, New York University and many others.