Hart To Heart and Community Fest Served Needs While Supplying Fun
Ron Bailey, Publisher
October 20, 2008 – In the middle of last decade, former first lady of DC, Cora Masters Barry, initiated a movement of sorts, something understandable to those who know her. “This started in ’95 out here when there were only beat up tennis courts” shared the woman who has been a force in the Nation’s Capital during her adult life. “We started it to get money to build better courts, and kept it going”.
What event is she referring to? That would be the Hart To Heart Tennis Tournament, which though the indefatigable efforts of Barry and others, morphed into the South East Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC).
The Hart to Heart Tennis Tournament/Community Fest brought those with at times contentious relationships together, including periodic city government foes Mayor Adrian Fenty (left) and Councilman Marion Barry (right). Flanked by both is Cora Masters Barry, Marion's ex-wife.
Built basically on the site of those once dilapidated tennis courts (Mississippi Avenue and Wheeler Road, SE), SETLC provides not only tennis instruction, but is a haven for your people attempting to avoid pitfalls and better themselves. In doing so, it offers, tutoring, computer access, entrepreneurial education, tennis training and a positive environment for all children.
“You can trace improvement in the kids” who participate noted Barry, before going on to say of those who attend Hart Middle School next door “They are let out of school at 3:00 and are in here by 3:15”.
One such young lady is Diamond Harris, Barry’s self-described “star”. “What I find I like about it is we are come together as a family” said the self-confident and intelligent 11 year old. “We work together as a team”.
The SETLC boasts a tennis lab, library (in distance), tutoring room, sewing shop, and of course a first class tennis facilities, including an indoor 'bubble'.
Diamond is driven to succeed not only internally and via SETLC, but first and foremost by her mother Tonya Parker, whose involvement Barry noted is key, as “it really works when the parents are involved”.
The center, under the auspices of the Education Wish List Committee of Washington was built, shared Barry, “with 4.5 million dollars from Mayor Williams (Anthony Williams, the previous city leader allocated the funds from city coffers) and 1.5 million I raised” from donors like Fannie Mae.
Current D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is on record as a past and present supporter, stating “I voted for this center when I was on the council”. In terms of current funding, Fenty shared “There is a funding level we’re obviously going to maintain” (at the time of publication, that specific amount had been requested but not supplied by the Mayor’s office. When received, it will be added to this article in addendum).
The tournament and related celebrity match, which provides funding to offset the costs associated with tennis training and competition – Barry rightly identified the cost as “expensive” given the tourney fees, equipment and training necessary to compete – boasted the likes of City Council members Marion Barry (Ward 8) and Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), former Tennis professional Zina Garrison, and John Thompson III, Georgetown University’s head basketball coach, to go along with Fenty and others.
Georgetown's players, including (l. to r.) Henry Sims, Greg Monroe, Omar Wattad, Austin Freeman, and Chris Wright (back turned), enjoy some shots with a young guy attending the John Thompson III Fourndation's Community Fest.
In fact, for the second consecutive year Thompson’s organization, The John Thompson III Foundation assisted Hart to Heart’s tournament with its Community Fest; held simultaneously in the adjacent Oxon Run Park, Community fest provided entertainment, food, basketball skill development and play, along with education from a wide range of vendors.
Teaching is the foundation’s raison d’etre.
“I think it’s important to combine education with the fun part of it” shared Monica Thompson, co-founder of the organization with her husband and its Executive Director.
“What Monica and I hope to do is shed light on established organizations, that do such good work in the community” he added, echoing the sentiments of his wife. “If we can do just a little bit, it’s well worth it”.
“Cora kept this vision going” said Nina Moe, the Education Wish List Committee’s Co-Chairman. If more of us took actions such as Barry, the Thompsons and others, not only D.C. but the world would be a better place.
They are keeping something good moving. Others can follow suit.
Addendum: Per Millicent Williams, President and CEO of the DC Children & Youth Investment Trust Corporation (through Feras Sleiman, Communications Specialist, Mayor Fenty's office), SETLC received $50,000 for this year (2009), with no guarantee of funding going forward.
If there was ever an organization that deserved government and private support, its SETLC. Only the community at large can ensure future funding.