Kimberly Hughes-Gill Heads Up East St, Louis Community Tennis Association, Is Looking Forward To Futures' Annual Diversity Day Activities

EDWARDSVILLE — Kimberly Hughes-Gill, president of the East St. Louis Community Tennis Association, said on Monday, July 13, 2026, that the organization plans to send several youths and volunteers to the annual Diversity Day clinic on July 29, 2026, at Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville as part of the Edwardsville Futures Pro Tournament.

Speaking after a press conference at the Holiday Inn Express in Edwardsville, Hughes-Gill said she is looking forward to the clinic and the opportunity it provides for young players from East St. Louis.

“The East St. Louis Community Tennis Association will have representation of several youth that will be participating, and a few volunteers, as well," Hughes-Gill said.

Hughes-Gill attended the press conference with her granddaughter, Kai Moore, to promote the tournament. In her role with the East St. Louis Community Tennis Association, she has helped bring children to the annual Diversity Day clinic and program, which emphasizes community involvement in tennis.

She also pointed to progress in tennis facilities in East St. Louis, where new courts have opened and the girls team is actively using them.

“We have six brand-new courts as of May 16,” Hughes-Gill said. “We have state-of-the-art courts that were built; the girls team is actively playing there. We’re building a boys team; we currently don’t have a competing boys team, but several boys are playing with the girls in practice.”

Hughes-Gill said the new courts are important to the community beyond competition.

“The facility means everything,” Hughes-Gill said. “Facilities are necessary to be able to have safe courts to participate on. The kids are ecstatic, the community loves it. It’s a beautification community effort as well.”

She said developing the program remains a priority, including the long-term goal of producing a state champion.

“We haven’t had that happen yet,” Hughes-Gill said. “It’s been a goal for developing the program, but we’re working toward that. We have some emerging players that are coming up.”

Hughes-Gill said the Diversity Day clinic is especially meaningful because it gives children a chance to interact with players from other communities.

“It means everything,” Hughes-Gill said. “They get to play with other students from other communities, and of course, the camaraderie they build as they play. They each make new friends in other communities as well, so it’s great for the sport for them to just learn how to play with other students from other communities as well.”

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