Sister to Sister: Public health students empowering young women through talk and tennis

Health disparities among Boston communities of color prevent minority youth from accessing important opportunities for education and social development. The proposed session will describe a unique program that combines weekly tennis lessons with personal development workshops for girls ages 10-17. The initiative focuses on health and wellness, financial literacy, leadership, social issues, organizational skills, college readiness and workforce development. Students from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) contribute to this initiative by conducting work workshops on disease prevention, nutrition, healthy living, mental health, and self image This session will be co-presented by BUSPH's Public Health Alliance for Minorities (PHAM) students who use the project for community outreach and planning and The New England Alliance for Public Health Workforce Development, a HRSA funded program which promotes and facilitates collaborative public health education and training. This work is conducted at Sportsmen Tennis Club (STC), the only Black-owned and operated, indoor non-profit tennis club in America. The session will highlight the importance of community service while working on graduate degree. It will also discuss ways the initiative empowers the young female participants with the knowledge and confidence to make healthier mental and physical choices.