INNERCITY TENNIS FOUNDATION

NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS & LEARNING PROGRAMS:INNERCITY TENNIS (ICT) IS A MEMBER OF THE USTA FOUNDATION'S NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS AND LEARNING NETWORK, A NETWORK MADE UP OF NONPROFIT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER FREE OR LOW-COST TENNIS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO UNDER-RESOURCED YOUTH. AS SUCH, ICT LEVERAGES TENNIS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINNEAPOLIS YOUTH TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH. OUR COACH-LED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE THREE CORE AREAS: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY BELONGING. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT PHYSICALLY ACTIVE YOUTH ARE LESS LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS, WHILE STRONG MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ENHANCE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND REDUCE DELINQUENCY. THESE FACTORS COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO DECREASED VIOLENCE BY ALLEVIATING STRESS, PROMOTING CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS, AND FOSTERING POSITIVE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.OUR FLAGSHIP YOUTH TENNIS PROGRAMS INCLUDE:TENNIS IN THE SCHOOLS: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS TOP-TIER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TENNIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AT NO COST. IT IS STRUCTURED INTO THREE COMPONENTS:IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING: THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR, ICT COACHES WORK IN TWO MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DAILY FOR 4-8 WEEKS, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, PROVIDING 3-6 HOURS OF TENNIS INSTRUCTION IN COLLABORATION WITH MPS PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING: ICT COACHES LEAD AFTER-SCHOOL TENNIS CLUBS FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND EXTENDED DAY NETWORKS.SUMMER PROGRAMMING: ICT COACHES PROVIDED TENNIS ENRICHMENT AT EIGHT SITES FOR MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUMMER STUDENTS.TENNIS IN THE PARKS: IN 2023, TENNIS IN THE PARKS WAS HELD AT 21 MINNEAPOLIS PARKS, CONTINUING TO BE ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST ACCESSIBLE AND IMPACTFUL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH SPORTS.SUPER SATURDAYS: SUPER SATURDAYS IS A THREE-HOUR, MULTI-SPORT PROGRAM FOR 130 CHILDREN AGES 3-18, HELD TWICE A MONTH ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. THIS VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN PROGRAM IS ENTIRELY FREE FOR PARTICIPANTS.CITIES ACADEMY: CITIES ACADEMY OFFERS A YEAR-ROUND, OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME TENNIS PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING AND COMPETITIVE YOUTH PLAYERS, WITH SUBSTANTIAL NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION.