CDW Session Descriptions
Friday, September 26
Opening Session
As we gather to kick off the 2025 Community Development Workshop, we will share a meal and you will hear from former Greensboro City Manager Chris Wilson, as he and Kelly Gaines talk about the City's perspective on getting courts built and maintained.
Just Do It Right
We volunteer or are voluntold to serve as a leader in the CTA. What does that entail? There are best practices in leadership roles that will be shared to sustain and improve the CTA.
Growing Tennis with USTA Coaching
This session will explore what inspires people to start playing and continue to play tennis throughout their life. Learn how your CTA can team up with USTA Coaching to grow our sport & inspire tennis players in your community!
Hosting State Championships
Get an inside look on the planning and execution of hosting a USTA NC League State Championship! We will explore key elements such as bid process, volunteer scheduling, community engagement, and economic impact. Attendees will gain real-world guidance, learn best practices from past events, and leave with a clear understanding of what it looks like to bring these premier championships to life in their city.
Google Grant 101
Did you know Google offers 501(c)3 nonprofits up to $10,000 a month in free advertising? In this session, you’ll learn how the Google Ads Grant works and how your organization can use it to reach new audiences, promote programs, and share your story online. Whether you’re brand new to Google Ads or looking for ways to make your campaigns more effective, you’ll walk away with practical tips and examples tailored to nonprofit needs.
College Block Party
Discover how your CTA can help USTA reach its 35 by ’35 vision of 35 million players through creative strategies that bring the joy of tennis to new spaces—like college campuses without varsity teams. Attendees will leave with a practical toolkit to host a Collegiate Block Party and actionable ideas to inspire growth in their local communities. This session showcases the Collegiate Block Party, a fun, high-energy model that sparks engagement and expands exposure to the sport.
GLOW Tennis
Make sure to bring some Neon clothes for this fun evening of glow-in-the-dark tennis. A couple courts at Piedmont Tennis Center will be transformed and you will get to take part in some fun redball tennis. All equipment will be provided.
Saturday, September 27
Data Segmentation
Take a deep dive into the why of data. Why is it important and how does it help us understand what's out there. Learn what the data tells us about the different types of tennis players and how we can best connect with them.
All Things Adult Play
Have questions about Adult Programming through USTA? Swing by and ask our staff! Allison, Nick, John, and Katie will be there to answer your questions. They can cover anything from Try Tennis retention to getting a facility address updated in TennisLink - if its about adult programming, they can help!
Engaging High School and Middle School Players & Coaches
Many areas have HS and MS teams with players and coaches who are not engaged with their community tennis programs. In this session, hear from a CTA about how they created a HS tournament to help bridge the gap between these 2 structures; plus other best practices for engaging your local HS players and coaches
Game, Set, Match: Partnering Through Tennis to Develop Youth and Community
What happens when Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation NJTL and Turning Point Community Development Organization, two nonprofit entities, partner in rural NC to develop youth and community through tennis, education, and nutrition? It’s much more than a game. It's Game, Set, Match! Learn how these two entities create and promote programs to equip youth with the skills to succeed in life - on and "beyond the court."
CTA Roundtable
Join your fellow Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) for a dynamic, collaborative roundtable discussion. Participants will be broken into smaller groups based on size, scope, and budget. Together, you’ll explore a variety of topics covering the real challenges and opportunities.
This session is an opportunity to network, problem-solve, share best practices, and spark ideas. You will walk away with fresh strategies and actionable insights to strengthen your programs and impact in your community.
Sanctioned Success: Tournaments
Come hear and learn how running tournaments can bolster and create a sense of community in your area
The Giving Connection: Building Strong Donor/Foundation Relationships
Whether you are passionate about supporting a nonprofit organization or directly involved with a foundation seeking potential donors to steward, attending this session will provide the basics for either becoming a supportive donor or seeking donations for your charitable foundation.