After-School Excellence Program

During the school year, Tenacity addresses the needs of Boston's youth in its After-School Excellence Program (ASEP). The goal of this three-year intensive program is to enhance children's lives by providing tennis, academic tutoring, and life-skill development in sanctioned after-school activities which are fun and meaningful.

ASEP is a multi-year program for students from our seven partner middle schools: Curley, Edison, Gavin, McCormack, Lewis, Umana/Barnes, and The New Boston Pilot Middle School. The program is held at The Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, Harvard University, the Boston Athletic Club, the Umana/Barnes Middle School, and other local indoor facilities.  In addition to intensive tennis instruction, students receive academic tutoring from local college students and professionals.  The tutoring is guided by our Academic Coordinators, who work closely with the teachers at our partner schools to help identify the needs and strengths of each of our students. ASEP students build reading and communication skills through KidzLit, a character development based literary curriculum designed by the Developmental Studies Center.

Students also participate in many activities and special events that are designed to foster team work and responsibility, and help students develop the life skills they need for success.  As called for in our Rallying to Serve strategic plan, this program will expand to include 240 students from 16 Boston Middle Schools by 2009.