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Connie Barnes with one of the charter participants. (Photo ©2005 SquashEmpower)

SquashEmpower, the Washington D. C-based urban youth enrichment program that had such a successful pilot launch last spring, will be holding a Gala Fund Raising Auction Dinner on Saturday evening, September 24th, to kick off its 2005-2006 schedule.

The event will be hosted by the Australian embassy and feature Australian fare---Atlantic salmon, pavlova and lamington, complemented by a great selection of that country's wines---and a number of major alluring auction items, among which will be squash sessions with such marquee performers as PSA standouts Chris Walker, a SquashEmpower patron , former (2001) British Open finalist and currently the U. S. team head coach, and top-three PSA superstar Peter Nicol.

Based out of the National Capital Y on Rhode Island Avenue in downtown Washington D C and endorsed by the National Capital Squash Racquets Association (NCSRA), SquashEmpower, like its youth-oriented predecessors (Squashbusters in Boston, Streetsquash and Citysquash in New York, SquashSmart in Philadelphia and the newly formed Metrosquash in Chicago, among others), has the goal, clearly enunciated in its mission statement, of "combining the sport of squash with academic tutoring and mentoring for under-served, disadvantaged youth in D C in order to develop self-esteem and discipline through academic, athletic and personal achievement."

The program is headed by Connie Barnes, the head pro at the Bethesda Sport & Health Club and the Potomac Squash Club and the USSRA's regional representative for the Mid-Atlantic region. She coordinated last spring's "trial" program, which consisted of 32 fifth-grade students from the School of Art and Learning (SAIL) and the Capital City Charter School, both of which are located just a short distance (two and eight blocks respectively) from the National Capital Y, whose four hardball courts provided the venue for the introduction to the game for these enthusiastic youngsters twice each week during their physical-education classes and on Saturday mornings as well.

The experiment was so well received on the part of all parties involved that it was quickly decided to expand the program to include the entire academic year and the upcoming summer as well. A 12-person Advisory Board, which includes Barnes, former USSRA CEO Palmer Page, a co-chair with fellow Board member Walker of next week's dinner, and a variety of attorneys, investment bankers, administrators, squash professionals and teachers from the DC area, has already been formed to work closely with Barnes throughout the 2005-2006 program, whose first session is set for October 1st.

The emphasis on improving self-esteem is especially relevant for Barnes, a native Aussie (and 20-year state-level player there) who has taken classes at George Washington University while working towards a Masters degree in Psychology from the University Of South Australia. Working with SquashEmpower Board Of Directors member Jonathan Lam, a clinical and sports psychologist, she will be monitoring the self-esteem levels of this year's students (utilizing a questionnaire specifically devised to measure this quotient) as the academic year moves forward and reporting on any improvements that emerge. She and Lam plan to produce a paper on the results of this procedure which Barnes hopes will be the basis for the dissertation she eventually will be writing.

Anyone interested in supporting or learning more about the SquashEmpower organization or in becoming a patron of the organization or of next week's dinner is urged to go to their web site, SquashEmpower.org or to call the office directly at (301) 807-9905.