The City of Compton will soon feature the presences of two of its greatest exports. The Health Compton Community Festival on November 12 will celebrate good eating, celebrity workouts, and much more, as Mayor Aja Brown welcomes the Williams sisters' return to town.
"They continue to be role models for millions of young people around the world and they got their start right here in Compton," Brown said in announcing the news.
The Williamses themselves released a joint statement, offering that "Compton will always be our home and we can’t wait to spend the day with the community at this inspiring event."
Gatorade, a sponsor in Serena's stable, has pledged to refurbish two tennis courts in the Compton community and unveil them in the Williams sisters' honor on November 12 as well.
Beyond their participation at the health fest, Venus and Serena have another deeply seated interest in returning to Compton: They have helped create and will dedicate the Yetunde Price Resource Center, named for their late and eldest sister, who died as a result of gun violence at the age of 31 in September 2003.
Mayor Brown again, on the center’s coming into being: "This is an incredible investment and commitment by Serena and Venus Williams, and I commend them for their desire to help children and families in Compton thrive. The resource center will serve as vital support to existing nonprofits and organizations that provide critical services to our community... 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 our age of social media blather and political bluster, that's news you can use.
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