Congratulations to Kevin Smith, 2008 representative of the Intermountain Section attending the Arthur Ashe Kid's Day and the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference in New York. Kevin was selected to represent coaches in the Intermountain who serve multicultural populations. Kevin serves as the Program Director of the Wasatch Community Tennis Association in Clearfield, UT. Kevin's vision is to provide tennis play for kids in communities through programs designed to develop interest, provide skill development, and create a life-time passion for participating in the sport that supports all of life. Thanks for your dedication and commitment to growing tennis participation in the Intermountain!
Intermountain Diversity Practice
Our unique beliefs, backgrounds and experiences shape the way we view the world, the way we view one another, and the way we approach our work each day. The impact of these differences on how we interact is universal.
At the Intermountain Tennis Association, we are committed to embrace these differences and realize the value they bring to our organization. We acknowledge that diversity is an important business discipline that improves our organizations ability to compete in the marketplace, and strengthens our strategic priority of recruiting and retaining emerging leaders, volunteers and players to the tennis community.
Our vision for every employee is to grow through awareness, while working to incorporate diversity throughout the fabric of the organization. In realizing this vision, diversity becomes…business as usual.
Our growing commitment to diversity and inclusion is exemplified in our effort to establish diversity training and cultural connections as an integral part of the employee experience. This is our framework for developing an inclusive environment, and establishing a workplace of choice.
At the Intermountain Tennis Association, our goal is to reflect the community of people we serve. We believe this dedication will support our efforts of greater inclusion, as we seek to attract, recruit, develop and retain a skilled work and volunteer force to accomplish our mission “To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis."
Multicultural Participation Initiative
Created by the Multicultural Participation Committee of the USTA Intermountain Section, the Multicultural Participation Initiative is a comprehensive guide for increasing the visibility of diversity and inclusion in the areas of leadership, programming, and fiscal responsibility of the USTA Intermountain Tennis Association. The plan is designed to strategically focus in areas such as: committee and board selection, training, staff diversity, greater over-all inclusion, cultural awareness, multicultural coaching education, development of ethnically-diverse competitive juniors, and supplier diversity.
Multicultural Participation Grants & Scholarships
This funding opportunity is connected to our mission of growing the game of tennis, and targeting increased multi-cultural participation throughout the USTA Intermountain Section. Individual grants and scholarships are available to help defer costs and expenses incurred for: tournament entry fees, clinics, travel, and more. Program grants are also available for organizations with a multicultural focus in their program development, outreach, and activities. Individual grants are awarded up to $500 per participant. Program grants have a maximum award of $2,500 per program. Grants are awarded throughout the year.
InterSectional College Workshops
Inter-Sectional College Workshops (ICW) introduce ethnically diverse juniors to the opportunity of experiencing an environment where playing college tennis and pursuing higher education are possible realities. The USTA Intermountain Section, and partners from neighboring USTA sections, host these camps to expand the scope of college-bound juniors. The workshops are held on college campuses so participants gain first-hand experience of the lifestyle of a college athlete. Top national coaches provide instruction, and college admissions personnel lead tours and presentations. Travel grants are available. Plans are being conducted to continue this important multicultural outreach for 2008. Contact the USTA Intermountain Director of Diversity & Community Development for more information.
USTA Diversity Plan: Multicultural Focus (2003-2005)
Our Multicultural Participation Committee was established in 1991 as one of the important developments of the USTA's effort to become a more inclusive organization. In October 2002, the Board elevated Multicultural Participation to a Level 1 Strategic Priority in order to focus the Association's efforts more specifically on this goal.
In February 2003, a 14 member Diversity Guide Team, consisting of volunteers and staff, was appointed by Alan Schwartz to lead the charge of developing a strategic approach to this new Level 1 Strategic Priority. Consulting Works, LLC, was engaged to provide us with external expertise.
The strategic approach that was used included a cultural audit. The cultural audit consisted of one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions with staff and volunteers, and an organization-wide survey. The data captured allowed us to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Five strategic focus areas were established as a result of the process. These priorities will serve as benchmarks, which we can revisit annually to measure progress.
Below is the link with the USTA Diversity Plan: Multicultural Focus, which was approved by the USTA Board of Directors at its December 2003 meeting. We believe that this Plan, along with the energetic commitment to the USTA's diversity efforts by all volunteers and staff members, will help us to be successful.
We believe that for the USTA, diversity/multiculturalism is about understanding and respecting our differences and using them effectively to our advantage as we go about the pursuit of our mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis. It's not only the right thing to do, it's a critical element of our future success.
Feel free to contact any of us with questions and/or comments.
The USTA Diversity Plan: Multicultural Focus (click here to see the full Plan)
More Information
USTA's "Next Steps" Towards Enhancing Diversity
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| Intermountain Section Diversity & Community Tennis Forum |
Intermountain Section Diversity & Community Tennis Forum
On Wednesday, September 27, the Intermountain Section of the USTA hosted an open forum for discussion and dialogue in Las Vegas, NV. The theme: “A View Toward Working Together,” centered around the a purpose to identify community organizers and leaders who are providing tennis instruction and programming in Southern Nevada, and to create a vision for greater collaboration and cooperation to impact the growth of tennis city, and state wide. An assessment of the state of tennis relating to the current climate of participation, and the potential for growth, led the section diversity & community tennis staff member to focus on a possible solution of creating better knowledge and awareness of the current efforts of those who contribute to making tennis available in various Las Vegas communities.
The events thirty invitation attendance list was strategically and carefully organized to provide an array of participants who would share a specific expertise or experience that would lend a special flavor of diversity. The list included: CTA & NJTL leaders, Nevada Tennis Association staff, NTA Board Members, City & County Officials, Tennis Pros, USTA National & Section staff, Las Vegas Leisure Service employees, Public & Private facility managers, Parks & Recreation staff, and others.
The forum provided discussion and dialogue around the topics of: Consistency of Message, Shared Vision, & Teamwork. Every participant was willing and able to contribute toward identifying the value of building a better working together plan that would benefit all tennis outreach in Las Vegas. And, the greater vision of providing tennis opportunity for the untapped markets in the state of Nevada. One highlight of the forum was the organizing of a new team that would work toward building greater accountability that would ensure better relations amongst those who support this new collaboration. This, in turn, would produce greater inclusion for all ethnic populations, who will now receive greater exposure through greater innovation and superior creativity.
The forum helped us all to view future group (team) success, and to be aware of the upcoming challenges that face such a bold move toward progress. One of our national staff member’s who participated, was able to articulate the vision of creating power in community. This forum was the beginning of establishing true community tennis for the city of Las Vegas.