WASHPO: Tennis Center Equally Valuable for Shaping Kids Off Court, Parents Say
By Hamil R. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Antanae Horton, 13, has played tennis at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center for three years. But it's not just exercise that keeps her coming back.
"I have met Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle, Maya Angelou, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson and Dr. Dorothy Height," the teen said.
Her mother, Demetrice Johnson, said the center changed her daughter's life. Johnson credits Cora Masters Barry, a driving force behind the $5.1 million complex that has introduced thousands to tennis since opening in 2001. But a large part of the programming, provided by the foundation Barry heads, is devoted to education and outings.
"Antanae was a troubled child before Mrs. Barry came into her life," Johnson said. "She would get into fights and do bad in school, but now I have a new child, and her grades are excellent."
Johnson was among more than a dozen parents who rallied behind Barry and members of her Recreation Wish List Committee after the city notified the group last week that it had 30 days to vacate the center. City officials said the group can no longer partner with the city because its corporate registration has been revoked.
The District owns the facility, and the Department of Recreation staffs it. But Wish List, founded in 1995, spearheaded the effort to build the facility, which features a library, classrooms and computer lab with 17 stations. Wish List staffs several programs at the facility and has donated $1.5 million to the facility since 2001, Barry said. The organization has said that any discrepancy with their registration can be cleared up.
D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) said that Barry's eviction notice was due to a technical issue and added, "These things usually get worked out."
But D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles said that was not an option. "Legally, you can't give them a break. This is not the fault of the city. They should have known better. They were trying to do business with the city when they knew their status as a registered D.C. corporation had been revoked by the government."
To continue reading click HERE.
For more Congress Heights and River East news visit The Congress Heights Examiner website, http://www.examiner.com/x-13507-Congress-Heights-Community-Examiner
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Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Antanae Horton, 13, has played tennis at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center for three years. But it's not just exercise that keeps her coming back.
"I have met Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle, Maya Angelou, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson and Dr. Dorothy Height," the teen said.
Her mother, Demetrice Johnson, said the center changed her daughter's life. Johnson credits Cora Masters Barry, a driving force behind the $5.1 million complex that has introduced thousands to tennis since opening in 2001. But a large part of the programming, provided by the foundation Barry heads, is devoted to education and outings.
"Antanae was a troubled child before Mrs. Barry came into her life," Johnson said. "She would get into fights and do bad in school, but now I have a new child, and her grades are excellent."
Johnson was among more than a dozen parents who rallied behind Barry and members of her Recreation Wish List Committee after the city notified the group last week that it had 30 days to vacate the center. City officials said the group can no longer partner with the city because its corporate registration has been revoked.
The District owns the facility, and the Department of Recreation staffs it. But Wish List, founded in 1995, spearheaded the effort to build the facility, which features a library, classrooms and computer lab with 17 stations. Wish List staffs several programs at the facility and has donated $1.5 million to the facility since 2001, Barry said. The organization has said that any discrepancy with their registration can be cleared up.
D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) said that Barry's eviction notice was due to a technical issue and added, "These things usually get worked out."
But D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles said that was not an option. "Legally, you can't give them a break. This is not the fault of the city. They should have known better. They were trying to do business with the city when they knew their status as a registered D.C. corporation had been revoked by the government."
To continue reading click HERE.
For more Congress Heights and River East news visit The Congress Heights Examiner website, http://www.examiner.com/x-13507-Congress-Heights-Community-Examiner
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