The Moms on the Move Show

Alice Culver

Website(s):

http://www.ashetennis.org
 

 

Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center

Alice:  Arsenio grew up on the tennis court.  He's been playing since 7 1/2 years old he’s now 16.

And at 16, Arsenio is top 5 in middle states, top 75 in the nation, and a fixture at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center.  In the past nine years, Arsenio has relied on his mom Alice Culver, to get to daily practices and to every tournament.

Linda:  You really have to make a commitment to get him to Arthur Ashe.

Alice:  Oh yes, God has to wake me up to get him up.   He was on the court at 6:00 am hitting tennis balls so we had to get up at 5.  He gets up quicker for tennis than he would for school.  As long as they’re committed I can commit.

Alice also committed to taking on another child as a single parent after tragedy struck her family.

Alice:  Arsenio is my only son and then Marcus was my sister’s son.  She passed away almost 5 years ago and I adopted him.

Linda:  And the boys are really close.

Alice:  They were always like brothers coming up so now they're even more like brothers.  

Alice:  Quite a few trophies he’s got.

Linda:  Whoa! 

Alice:  That's when he was sweet that when he was my little angel there.

Linda:  Look at the medals.

Alice:  Arsenio, I have your agent over here. 

Marcus:  No comment. (Laughing)

Linda:  How do you feel that Arthur Ashe has affected your boys?

Alice:  Life skills how to become a young man and give back to the community and you can get scholarships and go on to further your education.

Lance: (Arsenio’s coach) Straight A’s?

Arsenio:  Okay, no not straight, but I'm doing okay.

Lance:  You know colleges won't want if the grades aren't looking right.

Arsenio:  Of course I need something to fall back on anyway.

Alice:  They're big brothers and big sisters are there so its just wonderful.

Coach Bill: What are you gonna be majoring in?

Marcus:  Business finance.

Linda:  And being a single mom its good to have male role models there?

Alice:  Yes

Scott (Coach to Boy):  For the world championship I want to see a 360 spinner.

Linda:  What is that?

Alice: Different coaches that have come along the way at Arthur Ashe have also communicated with him on personal things as well as school.

Linda:  What do you think the kids would be doing if they weren't going to the center?

Alice:  The neighborhood we were living in was surrounded by people selling drugs getting into trouble by taking them out of that environment and giving them something to do.

Arthur Ashe gives over 10,000 children something to do. They offer tennis and tutoring in 65 parks and 50 elementary and middle schools.

Scott (Executive Director):  We have  children come from all walks of life from virtually every neighborhood in the city and the suburbs joined together.

They also coach children with physical and mental challenges.

Scott:  We have over 200 autistic children who come once a week for life skills and tennis lessons.

Linda:  Arthur Ashe is not just about tennis?

Scott:  Our programs are about tennis but we use tennis as the hook to gain and hold the attention of our kids to teach them greater lessons in life.

Linda to mother and daughter:  What kind of changes have you seen here since she's come to Arthur Ashe?

Rochelle (Mother):  She was on the honor roll.  She's here 4 days a week.

Rachel (Daughter) Playing with Tina (Coach)

Rachel:  I want to be a tennis player professional or a doctor or a lawyer one of those three.

Linda:  This one's for Mom son the move.

Marcus:  Good serve.

Linda:  Come on Marcus lets go! 

Linda: Go get it!

Alice:  I work for Septa I've been here 23 years. Started out as a trolley operator.

Even with a demanding job as assistant director of Transportation for Septa,

Alice, not only keeps buses moving in the city, but she keeps her boys moving on the court.

Alice:  It gives them an opportunity for life skills not only is it tennis but it develops who they are.

Scott:  You know Linda, Arthur Ashe said “What you get you can make a living, but from what you give you can make a life.”

Alice:  They learn how to give as well as receive it's just like a home away from home.

Scott to boys: One for the “A and M” team.

 

 

 

 

           

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