Joetta Francis was always an athlete. When StreetSquash came to Thurgood Marshall Academy to introduce students to the program the summer prior to 7th grade, she was up for the challenge.
“I love a new sport and the challenges that come with it,” Joetta said. “But once my mom heard college prep, I was locked in. I had no choice whether I liked it or not. I was going to join StreetSquash.”
Her first experience at StreetSquash in 2011 was eye-opening.
“Just the building itself; I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that in Harlem,” Joetta said. “Especially a building dedicated to a sport that was unheard of. I. Plus the name StreetSquash made me think we’d be out somewhere on the street. But there was no street, all courts, and just an amazing building.”
In high school, Joetta earned her way to being the Squash Team Captain. That gave her the confidence to propel forward.
“It made me very proud to be a StreetSquasher and have agency with my teammates,” Joetta said. “Because of that feat, I felt like I could do anything.”
She also has fond memories of traveling as a StreetSquash participant. She went to England to train there for two weeks. Even the bus and van rides to and from SEA Team Nationals were meaningful.
“You just don’t forget those little instances with your teammates or your coaches that you would otherwise never get in the building,” Joetta said.
Following high school, Joetta spent four years at SUNY Purchase, majoring in sociology. StreetSquash staff encouraged her to live on campus to experience a new environment and stay connected with her peers.
The school did not have a squash team but she spent four years playing for the school’s volleyball team where she again earned the title of Team Captain. She graduated in 2020 during the pandemic so there was no graduation ceremony but she said she received support and congratulatory messages from StreetSquash staff.
After graduation, she spent a year as an assistant teacher for third and fifth grade at a Catholic school in Harlem. Following a short stint there, she was hired by U.S. Squash as the Manager of Tournament Support. She would help schedule the various tournaments put on by U.S. Squash around the country.
Now, she works as a Squash Events Coordinator for the Squash and Education Alliance.
“StreetSquash influenced me pretty heavily,” Joetta said. “It took my competitive nature and turned it into something I could use professionally. They weren’t just focused on me getting into college but on being successful in general.”
For students who may be interested in giving StreetSquash a try, Joetta says the friendships built around all of the programming might be the best part of it all.
“You build yourself a community with friends and teammates off the court,” Joetta said. “So, if you’re looking for a fun community, StreetSquash is the place to be.”
