Thanks to a new partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the North Lawndale Athletic and Recreation Association (NLARA) recently introduced tennis to 14 youth players, UCAN staff, and residents of the North Lawndale community on Chicago’s West Side, where UCAN is headquartered.

Participants engaged in fun games and learned from USTA officials, marking the beginning of a year-round initiative aimed at exposing North Lawndale youth to the sport. The USTA and NLARA are collaborating to bring tennis to more schools through free programming and coaching development in schools and local parks.

Starting in May at Douglas Park, the NLARA will launch tennis programs and cardio tennis for adults while offering opportunities for youth ages 5–18 to learn and play the game. The initiative also includes a coaching pipeline, allowing those interested to teach and earn money.

For more information, contact NLARA Program Manager Jason Daniels at Jason.Daniels@ucanchicago.org or (773) 243-7402.