2006 Diversity News July.6 - United States Tennis Association
DIVERSITY NEWS July 2006 • Volume 3, Issue 7
July is “Celebrate Diversity” Month The United States has the most diverse population in the world. This month, we celebrate the many cultures’ respective backgrounds, and those differences that make our nation distinct. How will you develop a connection with someone you don’t usually get the opportunity to know?
It Starts with One! The pro who discovered Sion Wilkins probably had no idea of the impact it would have on the Native American community. He merely saw a young boy who could hit a tennis ball with skill and passion. Years later, Wilkins is one of only two American Indian players at the NCAA Division I level. More importantly, he is now a role model to the more than 5000 Native American kids he has introduced to tennis. Wilkins partners with David Dantzer and Standing Tall Tennis, a program designed by Dantzer to use tennis to combat societal ills like alcoholism in the Native American community. Standing Tall Tennis and Wilkins have reached more than 23 reservations in the West, inspiring Native American youth to play tennis—some of whom are already winning tournaments themselves. Let’s see how many more new players these kids will inspire to love the game!
In This Issue July is “Celebrate Diversity” Month It Starts with One! Daytona Beach Hosts USTA Florida’s 2nd Annual Multicultural Training Camp 2006 Tennis Jamboree For fans attending the US Open, a 2,500 squareDiversity: It’sRalph Everyone’s foot Polo LaurenJob store on-site will serve as Office of Diversity on the Move
Daytona Beach Hosts USTA Florida’s 2nd Annual Multicultural Training Camp On June 16-18, at the Holiday Inn ExpressIndigo Lakes Resort, in Daytona Beach, Florida, 20 multicultural players, their parents and seven coaches from many diverse backgrounds participated in a tennis training camp. Sponsored by USTA Florida, the camp was designed to provide training and development opportunities, ensuring that no player is left behind due to cultural dissimilarities. The program emphasized match play, life skills and parent education in a supportive, competitive environment. Topics included mental toughness, conditioning, preparation and maintenance, “Win 4 Life” skills, grants and networking. Parents praised the camp for its tennis resources and the information provided that will aid their children in being accepted to college. The participants enjoyed the opportunity to improve their tennis skills. Players and parents agree the tennis camp was a huge success.
Daytona Beach Multicultural Training Camp participants
Daytona Beach Multicultural Training Camp coaches
2006 Tennis Jamboree June 24-25th Take a page out of this best practice! Huntsville, Alabama hosted its annual Tennis Jamboree—a carnival, tournament and tennis clinic all in one. This year’s event was a great success matching players with competition from neighboring Alabama and Tennessee districts, as players battled it out for the coveted tournament trophy. This year, Alabama was victorious, beating Tennessee, 25-17. Tennis players of all ages, their families, and college and high school FOCUSED ON THE COMPETITION: coaches all attended, making it a great showcase for Participants in the Tennis Jamboree and Tournament in Huntsville, AL rising college players. Yasmine Osborne, the Diversity, Grants and NJTL Coordinator for the USTA Southern Section, praised the event as a chance for players to network and develop new opportunities for tennis play across the section. There is already talk of new tennis programs in Huntsville as well as two new NJTL Chapters. For more information on how to host your own Tennis Jamboree, contact Al Garrett at [email protected].
page 1
Diversity: It’s Everyone’s Job Diversity is an invaluable asset that every company and organization should aggressively employ. By the year 2050, people of color will account for 50% of our nation’s population. The USTA is committed to achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering an environment that includes and values everyone. The word diversity simply means variety. Any company or organization stands to benefit from having access to a variety of consumers, staff, and business relationships. Though diversity lends great benefits to the viability of an organization, the response to diversity efforts can vary. In general, most people believe in and support inclusion. Still, acknowledging the value of creating an environment where everyone is included is just the first step. Many people consider themselves to be supporters of diversity, but very few actively promote diversity in their organizations and companies. The reality, however, is that diversity is everyone’s job. Cultivating an environment of inclusion requires each of us to constantly challenge our own cultural biases, get out of our individual comfort zones, and take action. Need some ideas of how to get involved? Start by:
• Understanding discrimination and its consequences. • Participate in diversity training that includes exercises on applying outreach and inclusion to your job responsibilities. • Partner with the multicultural participation staff member in your section on your current project. • Recommend qualified minority, female and differently abled candidates for open positions. • Prefer to refer friends for jobs? Expand your circle of friends to include the above groups. Remember that actions speak louder than words, and change starts with you. As you begin to actively pursue diversity, your actions will motivate those around you to do the same. So what are you waiting for? It’s your game...so get in it!! For more ideas for how to actively support diversity, contact Courtney Bryant at [email protected] or 914-697-2372.
•
• •
We, the United States Tennis Association, recognize diversity as essential to achieving our mission: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. For us, diversity refers to differences of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, family status, physical ability, appearance and ideas. We acknowledge our goal is ambitious and challenging and an opportunity we should clearly pursue. We are committed to achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering a tennis environment that is more inclusive.
DIVERSITY NEWS Diversity News is designed to share
Did You Know? •
USTA Diversity Statement
Hispanics, the fastest growing segment of the population in America, make up 20% of new tennis players. Robert Ryland, the first Black man to play in the US Open, won the 85-and-over men’s singles title this June at the National Public Parks Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center. Michael Chang was the youngest player ever to win the French Open. Wheelchair tennis was added as a sport in 1988 at the Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, and was added to the US Open in 2005.
information about what’s happening in the USTA national office, in the USTA sections and in the industry as it pertains to diversity. It is produced monthly to keep the entire USTA family informed of the USTA’s efforts,
Office of Diversity on the Move Karlyn Lothery:
Iris Rivera: Courtney Bryant:
accomplishments and lessons learned. If you
July 6-7 July 18 July 26-28
National Special Olympic Games in Ames, IA NJTL camp in San Diego, CA ATA Championships, San Diego, CA
July 7-11 July 23-25
National Council of La Raza Conference Florida DEUCE site visit
July 7-11 July 26-29
National Council of La Raza Conference National Urban League Conference
have any ideas, comments or suggestions on what you’d like to see in the newsletter or if you would like to know how to contact any of the parties mentioned herein, please contact Courtney Bryant,
Big Dates in July
Coming Next Month
US Open Series: July 17-23 Los Angeles, CA July 31-Aug 6 Washington, DC
National Minority Donor Month
July 26 Americans with Disabilities Act signed
AUGUST
Diversity Coordinator, at [email protected].
US Open
Arthur Ashe Kids Day
page 2
© 2006 United States Tennis Association. All rights reserved.
July is “Celebrate Diversity” Month The United States has the most diverse population in the world. This month, we celebrate the many cultures’ respective backgrounds, and those differences that make our nation distinct. How will you develop a connection with someone you don’t usually get the opportunity to know?
It Starts with One! The pro who discovered Sion Wilkins probably had no idea of the impact it would have on the Native American community. He merely saw a young boy who could hit a tennis ball with skill and passion. Years later, Wilkins is one of only two American Indian players at the NCAA Division I level. More importantly, he is now a role model to the more than 5000 Native American kids he has introduced to tennis. Wilkins partners with David Dantzer and Standing Tall Tennis, a program designed by Dantzer to use tennis to combat societal ills like alcoholism in the Native American community. Standing Tall Tennis and Wilkins have reached more than 23 reservations in the West, inspiring Native American youth to play tennis—some of whom are already winning tournaments themselves. Let’s see how many more new players these kids will inspire to love the game!
In This Issue July is “Celebrate Diversity” Month It Starts with One! Daytona Beach Hosts USTA Florida’s 2nd Annual Multicultural Training Camp 2006 Tennis Jamboree For fans attending the US Open, a 2,500 squareDiversity: It’sRalph Everyone’s foot Polo LaurenJob store on-site will serve as Office of Diversity on the Move
Daytona Beach Hosts USTA Florida’s 2nd Annual Multicultural Training Camp On June 16-18, at the Holiday Inn ExpressIndigo Lakes Resort, in Daytona Beach, Florida, 20 multicultural players, their parents and seven coaches from many diverse backgrounds participated in a tennis training camp. Sponsored by USTA Florida, the camp was designed to provide training and development opportunities, ensuring that no player is left behind due to cultural dissimilarities. The program emphasized match play, life skills and parent education in a supportive, competitive environment. Topics included mental toughness, conditioning, preparation and maintenance, “Win 4 Life” skills, grants and networking. Parents praised the camp for its tennis resources and the information provided that will aid their children in being accepted to college. The participants enjoyed the opportunity to improve their tennis skills. Players and parents agree the tennis camp was a huge success.
Daytona Beach Multicultural Training Camp participants
Daytona Beach Multicultural Training Camp coaches
2006 Tennis Jamboree June 24-25th Take a page out of this best practice! Huntsville, Alabama hosted its annual Tennis Jamboree—a carnival, tournament and tennis clinic all in one. This year’s event was a great success matching players with competition from neighboring Alabama and Tennessee districts, as players battled it out for the coveted tournament trophy. This year, Alabama was victorious, beating Tennessee, 25-17. Tennis players of all ages, their families, and college and high school FOCUSED ON THE COMPETITION: coaches all attended, making it a great showcase for Participants in the Tennis Jamboree and Tournament in Huntsville, AL rising college players. Yasmine Osborne, the Diversity, Grants and NJTL Coordinator for the USTA Southern Section, praised the event as a chance for players to network and develop new opportunities for tennis play across the section. There is already talk of new tennis programs in Huntsville as well as two new NJTL Chapters. For more information on how to host your own Tennis Jamboree, contact Al Garrett at [email protected].
page 1
Diversity: It’s Everyone’s Job Diversity is an invaluable asset that every company and organization should aggressively employ. By the year 2050, people of color will account for 50% of our nation’s population. The USTA is committed to achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering an environment that includes and values everyone. The word diversity simply means variety. Any company or organization stands to benefit from having access to a variety of consumers, staff, and business relationships. Though diversity lends great benefits to the viability of an organization, the response to diversity efforts can vary. In general, most people believe in and support inclusion. Still, acknowledging the value of creating an environment where everyone is included is just the first step. Many people consider themselves to be supporters of diversity, but very few actively promote diversity in their organizations and companies. The reality, however, is that diversity is everyone’s job. Cultivating an environment of inclusion requires each of us to constantly challenge our own cultural biases, get out of our individual comfort zones, and take action. Need some ideas of how to get involved? Start by:
• Understanding discrimination and its consequences. • Participate in diversity training that includes exercises on applying outreach and inclusion to your job responsibilities. • Partner with the multicultural participation staff member in your section on your current project. • Recommend qualified minority, female and differently abled candidates for open positions. • Prefer to refer friends for jobs? Expand your circle of friends to include the above groups. Remember that actions speak louder than words, and change starts with you. As you begin to actively pursue diversity, your actions will motivate those around you to do the same. So what are you waiting for? It’s your game...so get in it!! For more ideas for how to actively support diversity, contact Courtney Bryant at [email protected] or 914-697-2372.
•
• •
We, the United States Tennis Association, recognize diversity as essential to achieving our mission: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. For us, diversity refers to differences of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, family status, physical ability, appearance and ideas. We acknowledge our goal is ambitious and challenging and an opportunity we should clearly pursue. We are committed to achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering a tennis environment that is more inclusive.
DIVERSITY NEWS Diversity News is designed to share
Did You Know? •
USTA Diversity Statement
Hispanics, the fastest growing segment of the population in America, make up 20% of new tennis players. Robert Ryland, the first Black man to play in the US Open, won the 85-and-over men’s singles title this June at the National Public Parks Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center. Michael Chang was the youngest player ever to win the French Open. Wheelchair tennis was added as a sport in 1988 at the Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, and was added to the US Open in 2005.
information about what’s happening in the USTA national office, in the USTA sections and in the industry as it pertains to diversity. It is produced monthly to keep the entire USTA family informed of the USTA’s efforts,
Office of Diversity on the Move Karlyn Lothery:
Iris Rivera: Courtney Bryant:
accomplishments and lessons learned. If you
July 6-7 July 18 July 26-28
National Special Olympic Games in Ames, IA NJTL camp in San Diego, CA ATA Championships, San Diego, CA
July 7-11 July 23-25
National Council of La Raza Conference Florida DEUCE site visit
July 7-11 July 26-29
National Council of La Raza Conference National Urban League Conference
have any ideas, comments or suggestions on what you’d like to see in the newsletter or if you would like to know how to contact any of the parties mentioned herein, please contact Courtney Bryant,
Big Dates in July
Coming Next Month
US Open Series: July 17-23 Los Angeles, CA July 31-Aug 6 Washington, DC
National Minority Donor Month
July 26 Americans with Disabilities Act signed
AUGUST
Diversity Coordinator, at [email protected].
US Open
Arthur Ashe Kids Day
page 2
© 2006 United States Tennis Association. All rights reserved.
