The recognition that by focusing on the well-being of youth the health of the entire community could be improved led to the establishing oft the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club (now Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center, STEC) in 1961. STC was the first African–American tennis club in the US and the first indoor non-profit tennis club built by and for the African American community. The founders knew that quality tennis instruction and interaction with caring adults could develop well-rounded young citizens. They had a vision of tennis as a sport that can open doors of opportunity and hope, doors which they said "should be open to all members of society."

For 55 years Sportsmen’s has been a guiding force in the lives of thousands of low and moderate income minority youth. The Club has helped introduce local players to worlds of opportunity, and the world of tennis to Boston.

The club features 14 hard court tennis courts, 7 indoors and 7 outdoors.

Toni Wiley, Executive Director of Sportsmen’s since 2008, says, "Our big goal is to guide kids safely and on time through school and college." Wiley has the experience to lead STEC with this goal in mind. She brings to the position a unique blend of corporate and nonprofit experience through nearly 10 years of nonprofit management, combined with over 15 years of executive experience in the corporate sector.

Kern Johnson is a fixture at Sportsmen’s Kern is a jack of all trades. He can be found driving the van, coordinating class rosters, staffing the front desk, moving furniture and generally making things work. He is also a talented DJ.

Nadine Pankins-Houston leads all STEC academic and social enrichment programs including summer camp. Ms. Houston works in Special Education in the Newton public schools working closely with children, parents and teachers.

Marton Balla, born in Hungary, comes with 25 years of professional tennis experience. He landed in Boston via Eckerds College in St.Petersburg and Saddlebrook Tennis Academy in Tampa Bay. All STEC coaches enroll in ongoing professional development that gives them the experience and knowledge to develop as individual coaches and as part of the STEC coaching team.

Volley Against Violence (VAV) is a group of programs designed and offered by Sportsmens’ as an effort to decrease youth violence among Boston area youth by providing them with

• positive experiences
  
• skill building to promote positive decision making
  
• connections to adult role models, including Boston Police Officers

DEUCE
Boys Leadership & Mentoring Program

HEY Sister
Girls Leadership & Mentoring Program

READY POSITION
Academic Enrichment Program

SCHOOL TO SPORTSMEN'S
Van transportation from partner schools

Junior Tennis
Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center is part of the US Tennis Association’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network, one of more than 600 chapters throughout the United States offering tennis, academic and social programs for children of all ages.

10 & Under
Like the USTA, Sportsmen’s has adopted a modified tennis program for young children and for anyone just learning the sport by using smaller courts and racquets and lower compression balls.

Competitive
Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center offers three levels of training for Juniors playing competitive tennis.

Free Tennis
Sportsmen’s currently offers free tennis for children over the age of 4, youth, teens and adults of all ages on Friday evenings, 6–8 PM, and on Sunday afternoons 3–5 PM. Clinics are run by certified tennis pros, alongside committed volunteers, and every effort is made to group players according to their ability. No equipment or experience are ever needed; tennis shoes are required.

Executive Director Toni Wiley says, "In 2015 we realized great public health needs to avoid and manage chronic disease in our community. It lead us to establish the Community Wellness Center at STEC."

The mission of the Community Wellness Center at STEC is to advance patient health and chronic disease prevention in the underserved communities of Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury, three of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods.

"The Community Wellness Center at STEC provides a transformative way to bring health prevention, wellness education, and exercise programs where we know it is most needed – in the very neighborhoods where so many of our at-risk patients live."

Asked about the current challenges for the Sportsmen's Tennis Enrichment Center, Toni Wiley says, "Our aging facility is in need of major roof repairs."

Donate
Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center is a 501(c)(3) organization which relies on philanthropic support for approximately 40% of its annual operating budget. Corporate and foundation grants, event support and individual donations allow us to provide free and reduced-cost programs that reach approximately 5,000 young people each year.

Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center builds leaders on the court, in the classroom and in the greater community by providing academic, wellness and social development programs alongside recreational and competitive tennis instruction for youth and adults. STEC, is committed to improving life opportunities for youth in Boston’s Blue Hill Corridor while welcoming a diverse community from the Greater Boston area.