Program Kicks Off Second Season Serving At-Risk Youth
WHAT: Under the leadership of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, The Boston Police Tennis Program kicks of its second season of free tennis instruction for local youth. The Boston Police Tennis Program (BPDTP), which began in 2009, offers two hours of free tennis instruction twice a week to at-risk youth throughout Boston. During 2010, the Program served more than 1500 youths who live in Boston with instruction at Sportsman’s Tennis Club. Additionally, the Program served more than 100 inner-city youths from BPD’s District C-6 with tennis instruction at the Mary Ellen McCormick Housing Development.
WHO: Boston Police Community Service Officers; 80-100 local youth; Toni Wiley, Executive Director of the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club
WHEN: Friday, January 21 at 6:00pm – 7:00pm
WHERE: Sportsmen’s Tennis Club, 950 Blue Hill Ave. in Dorchester
WHY: Tennis instruction at Sportsmen’s goes beyond learning the building blocks of the sport. It also offers mastery of the life skills that kids need as they pursue their own goals – endurance, teamwork and conflict resolution – that they will be able to apply throughout their lives.
The Boston Police Department is dedicated to community policing. The department strives everyday to strengthen ties and build community trust with the residents whom we serve. The department recognizes the significance of cultivating police relations with local youth and fostering a good rapport so that youth and police can work together to improve safety and reduce crime in all Boston neighborhoods. This event is just one of the many examples of how the BPD is connecting with local members of the community and demonstrating our commitment to community policing.