Tenacity, Inc.

MISSION: To improve the scholastic, character and physical development of urban youth by combining tennis instruction and academic support with a focus on life skills. DESCRIPTION: Tenacity is a youth development organization providing literacy, life skills and tennis instruction to middle school students in Boston through the After-School Excellence Program (ASEP). Tenacity partners with eight Boston Public Schools and five after-school facilities. During ASEP, students spend half of their time in tennis practice and half of their time in Literacy Block. During this time, the literacy and life skills curriculum is implemented. This curriculum is designed to help students think deeply about their own identity, how their relationships and surroundings impact them and how they impact their surroundings. IMPACT: As of 2008, Tenacity has helped over 5,000 students in its summer and after-school programs. Ninety-five percent of the ASEP graduates are either still in or have graduated from high school, compared to Boston's 30 percent drop-out rate.