Tenacity founder Ned Eames was recently interviewed by YouthNoise PlayCity blogger James Hodges. Here's a transcript of the interview, (available here):
In just a few words, what is Tenacity?
Tenacity is a tennis-based youth develpment prgram for at-risk youth in Boston, with a heavy emphasis on literacy and reading.
How did you get the idea for Tenacity?
Theres a ton of need in urban America for programs to compliment what schools are trying to accomplish, in terms of education of the youth, and actually helping them develop. Sports, arts, and a lot of other extra-curricular activities are being cut from school budgets. We felt, as the local tennis community, that we should be making this great sport of a lifetime available to any disadvantaged child in the city of Boston who wanted to give it a try, so long as they were willing to commit to working on their literacy skills as well. So its just been a real effort on the part of the tennis community to help out kids who dont have as much of an opportunity.
Can you tell us the story of Tenacity's first event?
Well, the first ever Tenacity event was held at the Longwood Cricket Club on a blizzrd night, in January of 1999. We had invited 80 high net-worth individuals to come and hear our very first pitch, where we were going to present a 3-year business plan. We really hoped that these individuals would get behind our effort as major donors. It was an amazing night, because when I arrived, about two hours early, the snow was just barreling down. I just barely made it in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. So we thought the whole night would be off, and no one could possibly make it. But miraculously, sixty-six out of roughly 80 invited guests, many of whom were over the age of 60, somehow made it through the blizzard that night, heard the pitch, and got behind the concept.
What's been the most outstanding moment for Tenacity, up to this point?
I think the most outstanding events are when our kids, that we start with in 6th grade, receive their high school diplomas. Those are the truly outstanding moments we have in Tenacity, when we get to see the impact we've had on these kids, they're graduating high school, and they're going on to college.
What's Tenacity's goal for the next year?
In the next year, we hope that the Boston public schools will receive federal stimulus dollars that can allow them extend the learning day in several middle schools. Then we could bring our literacy and tennis programs into these schools, allowing us to double the size of our school-year programs.
And what about your goals for five years from now?
In five years, we'd like to have tripled the size of our school year program, and we'd also like to start a charter school that has a global scholars initiative as a major part of it. We're just starting to think and work on this right now, but it's important because we're all seeing these days that the globe is shrinking. We're all realizing how dependant we are, not just on the well-being of our own country, but the well-being of other countries. Jobs are becoming more global, and I think it would be neat to provide kids in the city of Boston with an oppurtunity to learn more about the international marketplace.
Awesome! Before we go, do you have ay advice for young activists?
Tenacity is a tennis-based youth develpment prgram for at-risk youth in Boston, with a heavy emphasis on literacy and reading.
How did you get the idea for Tenacity?
Theres a ton of need in urban America for programs to compliment what schools are trying to accomplish, in terms of education of the youth, and actually helping them develop. Sports, arts, and a lot of other extra-curricular activities are being cut from school budgets. We felt, as the local tennis community, that we should be making this great sport of a lifetime available to any disadvantaged child in the city of Boston who wanted to give it a try, so long as they were willing to commit to working on their literacy skills as well. So its just been a real effort on the part of the tennis community to help out kids who dont have as much of an opportunity.
Can you tell us the story of Tenacity's first event?
Well, the first ever Tenacity event was held at the Longwood Cricket Club on a blizzrd night, in January of 1999. We had invited 80 high net-worth individuals to come and hear our very first pitch, where we were going to present a 3-year business plan. We really hoped that these individuals would get behind our effort as major donors. It was an amazing night, because when I arrived, about two hours early, the snow was just barreling down. I just barely made it in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. So we thought the whole night would be off, and no one could possibly make it. But miraculously, sixty-six out of roughly 80 invited guests, many of whom were over the age of 60, somehow made it through the blizzard that night, heard the pitch, and got behind the concept.
What's been the most outstanding moment for Tenacity, up to this point?
I think the most outstanding events are when our kids, that we start with in 6th grade, receive their high school diplomas. Those are the truly outstanding moments we have in Tenacity, when we get to see the impact we've had on these kids, they're graduating high school, and they're going on to college.
What's Tenacity's goal for the next year?
In the next year, we hope that the Boston public schools will receive federal stimulus dollars that can allow them extend the learning day in several middle schools. Then we could bring our literacy and tennis programs into these schools, allowing us to double the size of our school-year programs.
And what about your goals for five years from now?
In five years, we'd like to have tripled the size of our school year program, and we'd also like to start a charter school that has a global scholars initiative as a major part of it. We're just starting to think and work on this right now, but it's important because we're all seeing these days that the globe is shrinking. We're all realizing how dependant we are, not just on the well-being of our own country, but the well-being of other countries. Jobs are becoming more global, and I think it would be neat to provide kids in the city of Boston with an oppurtunity to learn more about the international marketplace.
Awesome! Before we go, do you have ay advice for young activists?
I'd encourage high-school-aged young adults to learn about and fully explore their communities, the country, and the world at large, asking all of their questions and forming their opinions. I'd encourage them to be courageous enough to get really involved in these communities themselves, either as social entrepeneurs, or by supporting the organizations that they believe in-- because they are the folks that are going to decide what happens, and set the tone for the future.
