USTAF Grants ACE a Future Look
The ACE Project is thrilled to share we received $15,000 from the United States Tennis Association Foundation (USTAF) in June to elevate our service model through a strategic planning process. We will utilize this funding to hire a nonprofit consultant who will collaborate with stakeholders in Chicago, Baltimore, and Detroit, as well as board and staff, to deliver a 3–5-year strategic plan. Namely, this plan aims to address socio-economic inequities following the devastation of COVID and to support the overall well-being of members of ACE communities impacted by racialized state violence.
After suspending after-school programs in March 2020 in accordance with stay-at-home policies and school shutdowns, ACE worked with local leaders and service organizations to address growing health disparities across our communities. Through an adaptive three-phase Resilience Plan, ACE served over 600 youth and their families with emergency provisions, in-person programs, digital services, and mentorship. This fall, ACE will further innovate to establish a full-service model that aligns with local schools’ educational plans and bridges gaps in community needs and resources.
“Thanks to our long-standing partnership with USTAF, ACE continues to improve its capacity to serve,” said Ashley Jackson, MSW, Board Chair. “This recent funding will give us a chance to reimagine how we can connect youth, families, and communities to sustainable services; together, we envision more educational equity and social justice.”
According to research on positive youth development, children who have been exposed to trauma greatly benefit from sport through exercise, structure, leadership opportunities, and peer interactions. ACE improves physical, emotional, and mental health through our programs while also providing safe spaces for youth to heal from overwhelming stress and trauma. In the 2021-22 school year, ACE anticipates serving over 1,000 youth through an expanded service model that addresses newly identified community needs in the wake of the pandemic.
“We are only just beginning to see the effects of COVID and shutdowns on youth development,” said Susan Klumpner, MSW, LCSW, Executive Director and Co-Founder. “By leveraging local partnerships, ACE connects families to necessary resources, further benefiting each community’s overall health and well-being at this critical time. Our experience through the pandemic will shape ACE’s organizational vision and strategy moving forward.”
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