Venus and Serena began playing the game they have come to dominate at East Compton Park, which is now known as East Rancho Dominguez Park. Both women are now tennis legends, not only for their combined 29 Grand Slam tournament singles titles, and their end of the year top ranking achievements, but for their Olympic “Going Gold” triumphs. More important, after a lengthy time on the professional tour, they have become the game’s social conscience leaders. They have exhibited “game” on court and a unique awareness of how to make a difference when they aren’t on the court competing.
Mark Ridley-Thomas, Venus and Serena Williams, Queen Jones and LA84 Foundation / NJTL participants
This was abundantly clear on Saturday, November 12th, when the sisters, who are now Florida residents, came “home” for a full array of activities including appearing at the 2016 Healthy Compton Festival and finalizing preparations for the opening of Yetunde Price Resource Center, which is supported by the Williams Sisters Fund and scheduled to open in Compton early next month. Price was senselessly killed in September 2003. It was a loss that devastated the sisters, as well as their entire family.
The LA84 Foundation / NJTL Program was well represented.
November twelfth began with Los Angeles Second District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas opening the refurbished the East Rancho Dominguez Park tennis courts that are a short walk from their home at the time. It is where they worked to develop their games. The next stop for the pageant was Lueders Park where the “Venus & Serena Williams Court of Champions” was dedicated.
Queen Jones, Semu Noa, Amy Bolker (S. Mark Taper Foundation), Melanie Bischoff and Matthew Jones
Melanie Bischoff is the Southern California Tennis Association’s Director of Community Tennis. One of her multiple responsibilities includes organizing the standard-setting LA84 Foundation/NJTL Program. Bischoff, who attended the presentation and the other activities that were staged on the 12th said, “NJTL is at both East Rancho Dominguez and Lueders Parks. Several program instructors attended the event, including Queen Jones who teaches NJTL at East Rancho Dominguez Park. Sam Noa, another long-time NJTL instructor, brought some of his students from Victoria Park to participate in the on court exhibition that took place.”
Compton Mayor Aja Brown with Melanie Bischoff
On a day that ended up filling a special memory scrapbook, Bischoff noted, “A highlight was when one of Jones’ NJTL students read an essay about how she had helped her and all that she has meant to her students and the community.”
Along with Ridley-Thomas, a number of other prominent community officials, took part in the events that day. Bischoff pointed out that many of NJTL’s partners were there, including Compton Mayor Aja Brown; Renata Simril, President of the LA84 Foundation; Marty Woods and Delores Simmons, leaders of the Pete Brown Junior Tennis Program (PBJTP); David Bryant and Gary Garcia, Lueders Park instructors; US District Attorney’s Office and several representatives of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Each of these individuals and groups is deeply involved in tennis, which further validated the importance of the day.
Renata Simril, LA84 Foundation President and Melanie Bischoff
Jones, who is known as “Coach Queen”, and is PTR and USPTA certified, said, “NJTL is part of Mark Ridley-Thomas’ After-School program at the park. Evelyn Soto, an NJTL participant, read her letter to Venus and Serena expressing her love of the game, and how she developed it by being introduced to tennis by me (her NJTL coach). She talked about how she started watching the Williams sisters on television because of her coach and she learned the fact the sisters began their careers on the very courts she plays on. Incidentally, Evelyn has an older sister, Erica, who is also part of the program and developed her skills and love of the game through being exposed to tennis in NJTL. Who knows, there could very well be another sister duo coming from that facility and Serena did mention in her speech that just maybe another champion could ascend from this park. It might be the Soto sisters, who began their careers at Venus and Serena Williams Tennis Courts of East Rancho Dominguez Park.”
Marty Woods (PBJTP), a representative from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Melanie Bischoff
For Jones the day was filled with a good deal of meaning. “For me, experiencing and witnessing Venus’ ‘full circle’ moment was extra special. She was overcome with emotion as she began her speech about her memories of playing on the courts that were now being dedicated to her and Serena.
Jones continued, “It was a ‘dream comes true’ for me. With my birthday just days away, it became a special birthday gift/memory that was quite sobering. I’ve been involved with coaching/instructing tennis with NJTL for nine years and truly enjoy the rewards of bringing life and passion to young people through tennis. I love this game and intend on sharing my passion for it ‘beyond infinity’. I’d always hoped that one day I’d meet the Williams sisters, especially when I took the opportunity to implement the NJTL program at the park. Having coached women’s tennis at Compton College, I was fully aware of the courts at East Rancho Dominguez’s historical relevance in the world of women’s tennis. Hopefully, the program will continue at the park through the generous funding of LA84 Foundation. It’s truly making a difference in the young lives of this community.”
Lam Michael, Delores Simmons, Linda Paulding, Melanie Bischoff and David Bryant
Bischoff continued her thoughts with, “This was a great event. There were so many community people there to welcome the Williams sisters. This was a very exciting day for tennis in Compton.
“To have the Williams sisters there was truly an honor and those on hand felt how happy the sisters were to be there. Venus was quite emotional and it was very touching. Serena was excited to be at the dedication and is looking forward to seeing more champions develop on the courts where she started.
“It meant so much to all of us. I was so happy that Jones and Noa’s students were able to be there and meet them. It was so much fun for the kids and an inspiration to everyone there.”
Concluding Bischoff said, “This story is very special to me because it shows the importance of NJTL instructors. Having Queen’s student (Evelyn Soto) read her essay about her mentor and coach to everyone in the community was truly a wonderful moment for the Williamses and for everyone else.
“It gave those not familiar with NJTL an idea of what instructors like Queen do for the classes they provide, and how so much extra is done to help the students. Those who work in the NJTL program are so important to the local community and are making a difference with youngsters who are participants in the program.”