For its first Los Angeles occasion, the All-Love Racquet Membership celebrated the African American tennis group on Sunday, February 25 on the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports activities Advanced in celebration of Black Historical past Month. Founder Erika Bond coordinated “The Cookout” as an ode to black resilience and dedication on the earth of tennis. Sponsored by Black-owned tennis firm FURI Sport, the occasion is impressed by the wealthy legacy of the Rancho Cienega tennis group, goals to foster inclusivity and variety in racquet sports activities.
The significance of illustration in tennis
All-Love Racquet Membership is a collective group and way of life model devoted to equitable entry to sports activities reminiscent of tennis, padel and pickleball. The membership is dedicated to supporting extra complete illustration and guaranteeing that each participant or fan, no matter background, finds a welcoming and genuine area to construct group and tradition. By way of occasions like “The Cookout,” All-Love Racquet Membership hopes to spark conversations and encourage change within the tennis group, advocating for a future the place entry to the game will not be a luxurious, however obtainable to all.
Neighborhood engagement and actions
Below Bond's visionary management, “The Cookout” is the third occasion produced by All-Love and marks an necessary milestone in LA. The match and celebration of scientific type featured greater than eight groups, greater than twenty-five gamers, and a court docket filled with freshmen, compete and be taught the extremely athletic sport. All-Love has partnered with Fortune Tennis, a tennis program run by Emmanuel Fortune, to host a day filled with Black camaraderie and pleasure with meals, prizes, video games and good tennis. Prizes and giveaways had been supplied by FURI Sport and native tennis style model Ace the Moon. Meals from chef Stephen Metoyear and dessert from Westchester Bakery stayed true to the theme of the kitchen with their choices. Extra desserts and mocktails had been supplied by The Dessert Bar, together with different native native distributors reminiscent of cell bookstore Protagonist Black, Brownhaze Jewellery, artwork by BreAnn Renae, on-site massages by The Expertise Pop-up Spa, and the American. Tennis Affiliation (ATA).
A vibrant future for inclusivity in sport
As an Atlanta native who travels and finally settles within the West, Bond has taken it upon himself to problem the established order and create an area the place everybody can take part and excel in racquet sports activities. Prairie View A&M College Alumni and D1 athlete dedication to variety and inclusivity is commendable, has reshaped the tennis panorama and developed a powerful and supportive group. “I’m decided to alter the narrative and notion of tennis to make the game extra inclusive,” Bond mentioned. “The imaginative and prescient behind All-Love was born from my private journey as an individual of coloration on the earth of tennis, each as a participant and as a coach. In lots of circumstances, the game and the group they naturally intertwine, however if you interact in a sport that wasn't. It's not initially designed with you in thoughts, it may be an isolating expertise. By way of All-Love, my purpose is to remodel that narrative and create a welcoming area for all these fascinated by racquet sports activities.”
Bond brings the East membership to New York for his subsequent occasion. Its purpose is to proceed internet hosting each three months to make sure consistency locally. For extra details about All-Love Racquet Membership and find out how to grow to be a member, go to www.all-loveclub.com.
