What happens when a student feels seen? Ja’Miah and Coach Tyra Gaines share how trust encourages growth and success on and beyond the tennis court!
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To kick off our Game, Set, Outmatch series, we are spotlighting Coach Crystal Berry, a new ACE Team member whose love-love energy has made her an instant favorite. Read what she had to say about her experience!
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Across the country, kids are losing programs that keep them safe while learning. But there’s still time to turn this around. Dr. Susan Klumpner, our Executive Director, shares how we can uphold justice, build trust, and empower students on their path to success.
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Our partnership with the University of Chicago Crown School of Social Work connects ACE to exceptional leaders and learners who are on their way to greatness. Take Alina Popatia's words for it, as she recently completed her internship and continues to support our Team!
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ACE has made big moves in 10 years, and the next decade is on course to do the same! Expect changes based on feedback we received from stakeholders, but please be patient with us as we grow to the next level!
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Major shout out to our Parent Mentor Team in Chicago for making their voices heard at the 2024 Parent Mentor Convention. From the perspective of one of our newest Parent Mentors, take a look at what April Clay had to say!
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Our game plan is clear: recruit exceptional leaders to serve as board members and grow ACE's impact with their guidance. Meet Kemba Noel-London, a recent addition to our board, who brings a wealth of knowledge that is sure to move us forward.
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We learned a lot this school year. Mainly, tennis is in high demand at ACE partner sites! Our program leaders in Chicago and Baltimore serve up their favorite memories plus what they are looking forward to after-school next year.
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Mentorship is how ACE serves positive youth development on and off the tennis court. How do we develop new mentors while expanding opportunities for families through our model? The Parent Mentor Program!
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Each year, the ACE Team grows with new coaches, mentors, volunteers, and supporters. Kathryn Mayer, ACE Advocate, has stepped up year over year to coach us to success, working with organizational leaders to establish a strategy based in self-awareness.
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A big cheer for our Tennis, Social Emotional Learning, and Marketing Task Force members who are bringing new ideas to the table to push the ACE Movement forward. Check out the progress they have made so far!
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We are thrilled to share that this Fall, Melanie Stamps, ACE’s Champion, won School Social Worker of the Year! Take a look at how we celebrated this honor and our very deserving honoree.
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Collaboration with visionary partners makes the impossible possible. Need proof? Check out how PEER IL is bringing together local organizations to advocate for the equitable funding of school districts across the state.
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Help us welcome our new team members in Baltimore! Though there will be many challenges ahead as we work together to address educational inequity, we are better prepared than ever to excel thanks to these leaders.
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ACE is the recipient of the first (ever) Tennis Ambassador equipment package thanks to Richard Neher and Conga Sports. How will this serve kids in Southland Chicago? Find out here!
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What are the ABC’s of ACE? We went back to basics during the 2020-21 school year to reconnect youth to life-changing services. Check out how this move impacted ACE communities.
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United States Tennis Association Foundation has done it again; thanks to their tremendous support, ACE will take our mission to the next level! See what our organizational leaders had to say about the future of ACE.
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These days, ACE programs look a bit different, but we are always moving toward equity! We caught up with program leaders in Chicago, Baltimore, and Detroit to understand the local impact of COVID-19 and how it’s shaping their work.
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With the help of our friends from the USTA Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Sections, kids who lacked access to technology for e-learning opportunities are now connected!
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Susan Klumpner, ACE’s Executive Director and Co-Founder, discusses the organization’s adapted vision for 2020 to keep kids active and excelling through school shutdowns and stay-in-place orders.
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