They came with a purpose to celebrate, honor, educate – and probably most important – to be inspired just a few days before June 19th and the national holiday Juneteenth that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

The Saturday event held at the Donald Bly Tennis Complex in Inglewood was put on for the second straight year by Doris Obih, Founder and CEO of the 40 Love Foundation. 

“We wanted to make it bigger and better this year,” said Obih, who came through these same clinics on these same courts as a young girl, learned the game from Bly and went on to play college tennis and have a stint on the pro circuit. “It’s been great. The community needs to be aware of things like Juneteenth and to know that they have options. We have the opportunities for them to be involved if they choose to.” 

There was plenty of food and games and tennis that the young families from the community were able to enjoy. Across the country, gatherings like the one put on by 40 Love signified freedom for all Americans. 

“USTA Southern California is here to support and help celebrate a significant cultural event,” said Andy Schwich, the Section’s Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “This is an opportunity for us to reach young kids who might not have had the chance before and get them to play tennis for the first time.”

The day started with an hour-long yoga session put on by Jonelle Lewis. Chloe Abbott, a nationally recognized singer who has appeared on “The Voice”, sang the Black National Anthem and then joined in a panel discussion along with friend and fellow professional pro track and field athlete and model Kendall Baisden and Jordan Parker, a pro tennis player. 

All three are originally from Detroit and talked about following your dreams and believing you can achieve anything you set out to with hard work and focus. “I’m here to share my wisdom and things I went through and that you always have to thrive and grow,” Parker said. “My tennis has taken me all over the world from Africa to Australia. I was just an inner-city kid from Detroit and I’ve been able to see the world.”

Parker traveled to the Australia Open earlier this year working with good friend Taylor Townsend, who recently was a finalist at the French Open in women’s doubles. “My goal is to start an inner-city foundation like 40 Love in Detroit,” Parker said. “There are no indoor courts in the city. All of the tennis is out in the suburbs.” 

And what about the future of the Juneteenth celebration and 40 Love Foundation? Oibh said the sky’s the limit. “We would love to expand it,” she said. “We have about 120 kids taking part in our clinics now. We want more courts and different locations. Every child in this area should know we exist and have the chance to succeed by coming here.”