July 30, 2013

Tennis and tutoring, anyone?

East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring tutor Jazmin Harper with seventh-grader Tatiana Love. Photo by Katie Brigham.

Summary: The nonprofit East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring this month marks 25 years of using tennis to build skills, persistence and opportunity to help low-income kids beat the odds. The program serves nearly 300 students with the involvement of 135 Stanford University students and 18 full and part-time staff.

The following story is by Chris Kenrick, Palo Alto Weekly Staff, originally published 5/25/13

Hidden from view beneath the bleachers of Stanford University’s Taube Tennis Center is a cavernous, oddly shaped space, which, on any given day, is a beehive of activity. More than 100 students — mostly from East Palo Alto but representing 43 different elementary, middle and high schools — show up there after school for tutoring, dinner and tennis.

Nurtured by Stanford’s longtime men’s tennis coach Dick Gould and many others, the nonprofit East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring this month marks 25 years of using tennis to build skills, persistence and opportunity to help low-income kids beat the odds.

“I was one of those kids not wanting to do my homework, not wanting to listen to any authority figure, not having the mom or dad to help me out,” said Ebony Isaac, a participant of the organization from seventh grade until her graduation from Eastside College Preparatory School in 2008. Isaac, a 2012 psychology graduate of Menlo College, returned to the program recently as a paid intern. Now she tries to get through to kids she views as versions of her earlier self.

“If I see a kid sitting alone, waiting for a tutor I’ll sit and ask them how they’re doing that day and they’ll gradually open up,” Isaac said. “I try to let them know that even if they’re not doing that great in school, if they do ‘xyz’ they’ll be able to flourish. “It’s just little things. They’ll ask me about college life and I give honest answers. I think it really helps them to see the possibilities.”

To read more click here.

Filed under: Academic Learning Centers,Community

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