Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program

The Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (HJTEP) is a not-for-profit organization that has kept its doors open nearly 365 days a year for the past 54 years to boys and girls who reside in the high-risk, low-income neighborhood of Central Harlem, and other parts of NYC. The majority of their student-athlete population is students of color. During the school year, they serve about 1,000 students and enroll 150-300 students in their summer programs.

What their student-athletes experience on the courts and in their education and wellness programs develops the whole child in sports, school, and life. Tennis teaches kids essential life skills, sportsmanship, self-discipline, social and emotional competence, and how to fight obesity and lead healthier lives. Each week, HJTEP also dedicate time to improving students’ academic excellence and communication skills, working on self-development, and consistently supporting a positive code of conduct. HJTEP leverages tennis as a medium to provide educational and athletic support, and to promote physical and mental wellness among a diverse group of inner-city youth.

Champions in school, tennis, and life, HJTEP's success is measured holistically: encapsulating what children do on the court, how they perform in the classroom, and how they navigate their futures. Participation in HJTEP's enrichment programs instills students with confidence, strengthens executive functioning skills, and character to help them become leaders in their communities and beyond.