By Anne Levin
Every summer since 1975, National Junior Tennis & Learning of Trenton (NJTLT) coaches local youth in the fine points of the sport on its courts at Cadwalader and Villa parks. But teaching the young participants how to ace a serve and unload a winner shot over the net is just part of the story.
The goal of the organization, originally set by late tennis great Arthur Ashe, is to introduce the sport to under-resourced kids while also offering educational opportunities.
“Tennis is a vehicle. It gets them involved and interested, and that transfers to things like tutoring and trips to college campuses,” said NJTLT Executive Director Chris Liverman. “Many of the students in our program are the first generation in their families to go to college.”
Today one of 250 chapters across the nation, NJTLT is marking its 50th anniversary this season. The summer program that started with 30 children and three volunteers on old clay courts now hosts 350 youngsters aged 5-18. The program delivers comprehensive tennis and education services year-round to children from Trenton, Ewing, Hamilton, and Lawrence at a facility that includes two full-sized courts with blended lines, three 10-and-under courts, and a pavilion.
As part of the celebration, alumni from the program will return to play in tournaments on July 12. Later in the season on September 21, NJTLT’s annual gala fundraiser will feature four-time Grand Slam Champion Kim Clijsters in a day of events at the Mercer County Indoor Tennis Center at Mercer County Park, culminating in a dinner at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake.
Alumni are regular participants in the summer programs. Fourteen of them are serving as part-time coaches this season, assisting full-time staff.
“They all use the words ‘family’ and ‘community.’ They’re a part of something,” said Liverman. “This is a second home for them to come back to. And that’s a tribute to our coaches and volunteers. They focus on building the whole child from the ground up — character, volunteering, and giving back. Because when you help others, there is so much that comes back to you.”
NJTLT has been promoting the anniversary on social media since January, featuring accomplishments of alumni. A recent Facebook post focused on former student and current coach Joseph Wong, who is currently studying computer science at Mercer County Community College.
“I started with NJTLT of Trenton back in sixth grade,” Wong wrote. “My family heard about the program through a friend, and I’ve been part of it ever since.”
Another post is about Kallah Masudi, who joined NJTLT “as a quiet 10-year-old looking for an afterschool activity and found a community that helped her grow into a confident leader.” After becoming a junior coach, she gave a powerful speech at one of the organization’s annual galas while still in high school, and later spoke on opening night of the U.S. Open.
“With NJTLT’s help, Kallah navigated college applications, scholarships, and commuting to Rutgers-Newark, where she studied Korean and spent a year abroad in Seoul,” the post reads. “After graduating in 2020, she worked in clinical research and eventually earned TESOL [Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages] certification to teach English in South Korea. From Trenton courts to classrooms in Korea — Kallah is proof that opportunity, support, and determination can take you anywhere.”
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is NJTLT’s parent organization, providing some of the funding and educational opportunities. Additional support comes from the annual gala, and corporate sponsors such as New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, which will be honored at the September gala.
Last weekend, 20 NJTLT kids aged 8-18 joined four other chapters of NJTL in an invitational tournament in Lancaster, Pa. The Trenton players took part in a friendly exhibition, winning 20 out of 25 matches.
“Tennis is a great model for under-resourced kids,” said Liverman. “They learn how to problem-solve. They learn about geometry. And they learn to work as a team.”
For more information, visit njtloftrenton.org.