Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program

East Harlem (El Barrio)

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The Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (HJTEP) is more than a sports program—we are a social justice organization rooted in Central Harlem that empowers young people to overcome systemic inequities. Our mission creates champions in tennis, education, and wellness by nurturing the mental resilience, academic success, and tennis skills of any child between 5 and 18 years. We address social and economic disparities that disproportionately affect BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People of Color) youth in Harlem by providing equitable access to the elite sport of tennis and academic support to help them grow into leaders.

Headquartered in the 369th Regiment Armory in Central Harlem, a neighborhood that bears a legacy of systemic inequities, including the devastating effects of over-incarceration. These disparities have deepened cycles of poverty and restricted generational opportunity within the urban landscape of Harlem. These challenges have also posed disproportionate barriers to success for BIPOC youth, who make up the majority of HJTEP’s participants (64% African American, 13% Hispanic, 8% Asian). We work to disrupt these cycles by providing access to programs that oppose some of the root causes of inequity—education gaps, lacking mental health support, and limited opportunities for personal development.

The education and wellness programming in HJTEP’s Learning Resource Classroom (LRC) embody our commitment to social justice by providing comprehensive support tailored to each student’s needs. Our wellness program incorporates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), emphasizing empathy, self-awareness, meditation & mindfulness, and cultivated mental resilience.  LRC instructors leverage diagnostic tools like EXACT PATH to assess academic gaps and evidenced mental & emotional challenges and are then able to create personalized learning plans for each child that includes:
1. Academic Tutoring: to close achievement gaps with targeted, individualized support.
2. Mental Health Support: to teach strategies for stress & emotional regulation, particularly critical in a community that has endured compounded stressors of socioeconomic barriers and systemic racism.
3. Executive Functioning Skills: such as time management, goal setting, and critical decision-making to equip students with tools for long-term success.

HJTEP’s impact and expertise come from 53 years of serving Harlem’s youth and breaking down barriers to their success that includes:
1. Academic Achievement: Our students maintain an average GPA of 3.1, with 100% of HJTEP high school seniors graduating and 90% of those earning college scholarships based on academic or tennis excellence to help them successfully matriculate.
2. Athletic Success: Our tournament team players compete in top-tier tournaments and all currently rank among the NY Metropolitan area’s top 50 youth players.
3. Community Engagement: Our culturally responsive programs have positively impacted over 25,000 young people, fostering authentic trust for HJTEP programs throughout Harlem.

HJTEP invests in Harlem’s Future, driven by the belief that equitable access to education, mental wellness, and life skills is a fundamental right, not a privilege. By empowering Harlem’s youth, we combat the systemic inequities that have hindered generations, and help our students write the success narratives of their own futures. Our work uplifts individuals, families, and the entire Harlem community, by ensuring that its youth become the resilient, brilliant leaders of tomorrow.

Kids: Programs / Education Kids East Harlem (El Barrio)