All-In After-School

What a difference 10 years makes. Well, technically 11. In 2012, federal funding cuts eliminated after-school programs in Illinois School District #148. This severely impacted students who relied on these services to supplement their education, as well as their families, teachers, and communities. A few school staff began to stay after school to provide mentorship but without a structured program, their efforts could not be sustained.

Students needed more opportunities to connect with their peers, learn new skills, and most important for every child, to have fun in a safe space.

Thanks to our co-founders’ connection to tennis, we were able to serve kids in BIPOC communities with a sport that was mostly played by affluent white folks with access to country clubs. In collaboration with school staff, we launched a small camp for about 20 kids. The excitement was off the charts. Many of the students had never picked up a tennis racket or bounced a tennis ball before, and as they learned the basics of the game, their determination and passion shined through. The next year, we incorporated into a 501 (c) (3) as The Active Children Excel Project (better known as The ACE Project). And the rest is history!

Since that time, our scope has expanded significantly. Now, ACE’s national model provides after-school programs that make a major difference season after season.

This past school year, we served over 300 students with tennis and life skill coaching. Dedra Burnett, founding ACE Team member and Director of Programs in Chicago, shared that her favorite part was “having conversations with the kids. It made them feel good to be heard and excited to have conversation with the adults.” Though, she admits that “Programs are too short, and too far apart. We will find a way to have more sessions and longer sessions!”

Similarly, Michael Jones, our new Director of Programs in Baltimore, told us that his favorite part of the year “was seeing how many students at each site we had to fuss at to leave the gym and go home. We had over 25 kids on the waiting list!”

ACE programs continue evolving to ensure we meet students’ and families’ needs. Coach Jones says that “more training for coaches [will result in] more enrichment components that add to ACE’s value to schools, students, and communities.”

Coach Burnett agrees. “I would like to bring more programs next year to include SEL, academics, STEM, and arts/crafts. With additional funding, ACE can provide what I call ‘Friday Night Lights,’ which is tennis instruction in coordination with Riverdale/Dolton Police Departments.”

This summer, ACE is updating our tennis and SEL curriculums, thanks to feedback from volunteer task forces (full story here). Then, next school year, ACE will connect over 500 students to after-school programs in Baltimore, Chicago, and Detroit, plus, we will bring our adaptive services to additional schools, creating more economic opportunities for coaches.

You can support our after-school programs by making donation today. Every dollar makes a major difference!