As & Aces

1) Increase academic attainments
2) Increase behavioral outcomes
3) Increase physical fitness and tennis skills
4) Provide equitable access to non-traditional sport (tennis)

1) Academic activities: focus on literacy (reading and writing)
2) Teaching life skills: focus on character development, community service, and sportsmanship
3) Using tennis to promote physical fitness and retain children in this education initiative

Low academic attainments: Louisiana’s historically high levels of illiteracy and academic underachievement demonstrate the need for this program. A’s & Aces’ focus on literacy, one-on-one tutoring, and general academic mentoring support targets this issue.

Obesity: Our programming promotes an active lifestyle and getting kids moving. In addition to teaching the children to have an active lifestyle, our students receive classroom education on nutrition and healthy eating choices. A’s & Aces’ emphasis on fitness and tennis promotes a lifelong healthy lifestyle.

Access and affordability of quality enrichment programs with a sport:
Non-traditional sports, such as tennis, have been historically inaccessible to most low-income communities due to high costs to participate. Rarely do public schools in low-income neighborhoods offer a variety of sports, especially non-traditional ones. Thus, rather than bringing people together by being accessible to all children, these sports have been seen as an elitist, “white sport”, by minority groups. Martin, in her book White Sports/Black Sports: Racial Disparities in Athletic Programs: Racial Disparities in Athletic Programs (Racism in American Institutions) asserts that to ensure that all Americans enjoy the country’s promises of fairness, justice, and equality, we must understand the role of race and of racism, and address structural barriers that perpetuate inequality in all areas of social life, including sports. A’s & Aces’ purpose is to remove these barriers.

1) A's & Aces is demand-driven and bases its programming on the community inputs
2) Using evidence-based curricula: A's & Aces partners with the United States Tennis Association, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and Alliance for a Healthier Generation to implement curricula in addition to its own curricula
3) Professional, caring staff: in partnership with Tulane AmeriCorps programs; certifies coaches
4) Large volunteer base to provide low teacher-pupil ratio
5) All key staff trained and certified by United Stated Professional Tennis Registry/USPTA or participate in professional development opportunities

- Retention in year-round programming
- Eight (8) years in a row A's & Aces participants won the NJTL Essay Contest (Southern Winners for best essay in Louisiana); national winner in 2019
- Increase in academic attainments measured by graduation to the next grade (100%)
- Increase in number of under-resourced children playing tennis across the New Orleans area (have the largest cohorts of children playing tennis in Louisiana)
- Four (4) academic awards awarded
- over 60 USTA tournament participants; 50+ ranked in the State of Louisiana in last 5 years
- Six (6) children finished top 10 on the USTA National Student-Athlete Competition in 2013/2014 academic year; ten (10) ranked top ten in 2014-2015 academic year.
- Finished 8th at the Excellence Teams Cup in College Park (out of 12 teams, national level competition)
- Counselor in Training Program - employment opportunities for older participants, leading to AmeriCorps positions
- athletic/need-based/academic scholarships to colleges:
two Posse Scholarship winners, two Chancellors scholarship winners (Vanderbilt), one athletic scholarship (Quincy University)

NEXT:
- more college attendees
- more children playing tennis