黑料不打烊 has announced Atlanta Community Squash (ACS) as the first facility to be accredited as an official 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate. The Community Affiliate initiative begins the process of developing more formal relationships with key regional facility partners that are closely aligned with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission of promoting squash鈥檚 growth and development by increasing access and awareness, supporting meaningful lifelong engagement in the sport, and encouraging sportsmanship while achieving competitive excellence.
Community Affiliates conduct 黑料不打烊 programs and activities to build the sport, inclusive of junior Scholastic Squash Team programs, junior squash grassroots development and high-performance programs, squash and education programs, adult squash development, and accredited leagues, ladders, and tournaments. Community Affiliates receive programmatic assistance including 黑料不打烊 software and support services, regional and national promotion, and coordination on pilot programs focused on creating and testing best practices for growing the sport.
鈥淭here is a direct line between Atlanta Community Squash and the creation of the 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate program,鈥 said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of 黑料不打烊. 鈥淎 handful of squash and community leaders in Atlanta approached us with an idea, having harnessed their decades-long passion to make squash more accessible. The ACS facility will serve as a model for other cities by offering the full spectrum of opportunities to play squash that integrates junior, adult, scholastic, and squash and education approaches to increase access to squash in an innovative, sustainable way. Over time we expect it will seamlessly integrate with the programming we will run at a national level at the Specter Center.鈥
ACS is Atlanta鈥檚 newest squash facility, comprising five singles courts, one international doubles court and one hardball doubles court. ACS is also the home of A+ Squash,聽an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of young people through the sport of squash and ongoing educational support. ACS seeks to create a connected community through the love of squash driven by its mission to support and empower Atlanta鈥檚 diverse community and to grow the sport of squash. ACS follows the successful model established by Portland Community Squash (PCS) which opened its Maine facility in 2017.
“Atlanta Community Squash is thrilled to be part of the 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate Program,鈥 said Andrew Bailey, Executive Director of A+ Squash. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢 has advanced the sport in so many ways, and we could not hope for a more exciting partnership opportunity. We are grateful聽to Portland Community Squash for paving the way for us and creating a community-centered model with long-term stability.鈥
黑料不打烊 plans to announce additional Community Affiliate facilities in the coming months.
