The USTA announced today a new partnership with Public Allies, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation. Among its many programs, Public Allies’ AmeriCorps Ally Program identifies diverse young adults and prepares them for leadership through paid full-time nonprofit apprenticeships and rigorous leadership training. With funding from the USTA, Public Allies will place three of its young leaders into 10-month apprenticeships with two National Junior Tennis and Learning chapters in Milwaukee and Oakland, Calif., beginning this month

Lani Cardenas of Concord, Calif., Wing Yan So of San Francisco and Kenneth Sykes of Milwaukee will join two of the most active chapters in the NJTL network. Cardenas and So will apprentice with Youth Tennis Advantage, which serves over 800 children annually in Oakland, Calif., while Sykes will serve his apprenticeship with the Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation, which has provided a safe, productive and healthy after-school environment for over 17,200 children since 2002.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the USTA," said Kevin Clayton, Chief Diversity Officer, USTA. "Public Allies provides an important service, placing a diverse group of dedicated young adults into positions of leadership and responsibility with organizations across the country, and we are honored that Public Allies sees the National Junior Tennis and Learning network as an ideal venue for its young leaders to maximize their potential."

"Public Allies and the National Junior Tennis and Learning network both share the same ideals of molding young people of all backgrounds into a diverse group of future leaders," said Barry Ford, Director, Outreach and Advocacy, USTA. "With such a strong shared sense of mission, the partnership between the USTA and Public Allies is a natural fit, and we look forward to working with Public Allies to place more of its young people into NJTL chapters for many years to come."

"Public Allies is proud to partner with the USTA to offer kids in low income neighborhoods opportunities to learn tennis, improve academics and strengthen life skills," said Paul Schmitz, CEO, Public Allies. "This partnership will allow Public Allies to develop Lani, Wing and Kenneth as future nonprofit and community leaders while they lead youth tennis and enrichment programs in Oakland and Milwaukee. It’s is a win for the youth, for the USTA and for our communities long-term."

This year’s pilot program of three placements will gauge the successes and benefits to both the Allies and to the NJTL chapters. The USTA and Public Allies hope to expand the program for the 2010-2011 term with more Allies placed in additional host sites.

During the 2009 US Open, the USTA celebrated the 40th anniversary of the NJTL’s founding by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder. In June, the USTA unveiled a new name and logo for the NJTL, officially re-branding it as the National Junior Tennis and Learning network. The re-brand was designed to heighten awareness of NJTL initiatives while broadening the public’s understanding of the mission to instill in young children the values exemplified by Arthur Ashe – humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence.