The Junior Tennis Clinic, Inc. (JTC) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1985 by tennis enthusiasts Melvin Swanson and Kevin Harper. They had a deep desire to share their love of tennis with youth who would have otherwise not have had access to the sport due to its expensive costs. Mr. Swanson remains at the helm of the organization that has fulfilled its mission to provide professional,semi-private, low cost and/or free tennis instruction to deserving young people in Central Brooklyn for 24 uninterrupted years.
The Brooklyn Youth Tennis Association was founded by Mel Swanson, who has taught tennis around New York City for the past thirty years. He is also founding director of JTCNY (Junior Tennis Clinic) and BJTC (Brooklyn Junior Tennis Clinic).
The Brooklyn Youth Tennis Association (BYTA) is committed to providing youth communities around Brooklyn with tennis instruction and excellence in fitness education.
BYTA is affiliated with NYC Service.
S T A F F
Mel Swanson, Founder
Evelyn Swanson, Chief Officer
Leonard Mendez , Tennis Coach
Thomas J. Clark, Tennis Coach
Mel Swanson was introduced to tennis as a student at Hunter College, from which he is a graduate. His passion and commitment to the sport was inspired by one of his formative coaches, Sydney Llewellen, who also coached and was to married Althea Gibson. He has spent the last 30 years as a celebrated tennis instructor of both youth and adults. The USTA/ Eastern Office recognized Mr. Swanson as the 2001 Volunteer of the Year. He is a member of the (USPTA), United States Professional Tennis Association and is a Volunteer Board Member of the USTA Metro Region Board. Mr. Swanson has worked to develop strong tennis programs throughout New York City in various sectors. He has been a site Director for the New York Junior Tennis League. He was the boy’s and girl’s tennis coach at the Dalton School located at East 89th street in Manhattan (1995- 99). He led an afterschool tennis program at the Trinity School on West 91st street in Manhattan (1994-95). Mr. Swanson has also worked as a USTA Clinician for Brooklyn Parochial Schools; training Physical Education teachers on how to start basic tennis programs during school and after school hours (2000-2003). He has conducted tennis programs for the New York Families for Autistic Children Inc. located in Ozone Park, NY (2002-2004), and served as a resident Teaching Pro at New York Sports Club, 2005-2011, Cobble-Hill, Brooklyn, NY.
