The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, are giving back to their hometown of Compton, Calif. in a big way. The tennis icons will be launching the Yetunde Price Resource Center, in collaboration with the Williams Sister Fund, at the 2016 Healthy Compton Community Festival. The endeavor will aim to help victims of gun violence, and is named in honor of their sister who lost her life to gun violence.
The Yetunde Price Resource Center opens on Nov. 12 and will “conduct a community asset inventory and develop a comprehensive resource network designed to connect residents affected by violence with service providers.” This will be the first endeavor that the sisters have had in their hometown since 2003, the year their sister was killed in a drive-by shooting.
“The Resource Center will serve as vital support to existing non-profits and organizations that provide critical services to our community,” says Compton Mayor, Aja Brown, in a statement. The opening of the Resource Center means that residents will be able to access areas of need and identify other resources beneficial to the community to keep everyone safe.
“I understand first hand the power of partnership and I am confident that the Resource Center will play a major role in breaking down silos in our community by facilitating key partnerships to increase asset leveraging and expanding the impact of services,” Brown continues. “The Resource Center will be able to map all of the resources in and around the Compton community while providing customized assistance that will be a vital asset to improving our ability to service our youth, adults and families.”
In addition to the Resource Center’s opening, two tennis courts will be refurbished and and dedicated in the Williams Sisters’ honor, thanks to a grant through Gatorade.