Barbara McDowell believed young people have the power to change the world—starting with knowing their rights. To honor her legacy, the Center engages middle and high school students in learning about civil rights and social justice through workshops and conversations on history and today’s challenges.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center is proud to have launched Game, Set, Serve, a dynamic social justice and civil rights education program for middle and high school scholar athletes, in collaboration with New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL). Grounded in the legacy of Barbara McDowell, who believed that young people can be powerful agents of change, the program is a series of interactive workshops that connect “power hitters” in tennis to the laws, movements, and advocacy tools that drive social change today. Students are empowered to understand systemic inequities and use their voices—on and off the court—to advance justice.

By empowering youth, the Center carries forward Barbara’s vision of building the next generation of changemakers.