Joshua comes to Grassroots with a strong background in the non-profit sector, most recently serving as the Executive Director at The Community Soup Kitchen in New Haven. His strengths and focus lie in community development, relationship building with government leaders, and a deep personal understanding of the incredible impact a program like Grassroots can have on an individual.

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Fun Fact: Joshua’s favorite movie is Casablanca.

joshua@ngtenniseducation.org 

A native of Kenya, David began playing tennis at the age of 13 years. He was #1 at the University of Nairobi, Kenya from 1989-1992 and a singles finalist at the East African University games in 1992. He was a tour coach and manager of the Junior ITF (International Tennis Federation) Africa team that competed in South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe from 1994 to 1997. David earned a master’s degree in Sports management and Physical Education from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 2000. He is a PTR Certified teaching Professional. David has been with Grassroots since the year 2000. He is married and has 3 children who love tennis.

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Fun Fact: David enjoys eating halal goat meat

david@ngtenniseducation.org 

Kirina is joining us with a background in youth development, coaching, team building, and DEI facilitation. She has a bachelor’s degree in intersectional Education and Psychology from Mount Holyoke College. Most recently, she worked as a squash and wellness coach at a like-minded organization in Chicago. As a former student-athlete, Kirina appreciates the dedication, hard work, and energy that our students hold as they thrive on the court and in the classroom. In her free time, she enjoys listening to jazz, learning to cook (mostly the eating part), playing board games, and movie nights with friends. 

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Fun fact: Kirina has 34 letters in her full name.

kirina@ngtenniseducation.org 

Skyler is an educator with a passion for creativity and classroom inclusivity. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education in Literacy from Pace University. She previously was a classroom teacher in the Danbury Public School system and at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich. Her hobbies include writing, painting, doing puzzles, playing board games, and spending time with her family, including her two dogs. Skyler is an animal lover who almost pet a skunk once because she thought it was her neighbor’s cat. She also likes horror movies, but is too scared to go into her basement at night. Skyler has a big sweet tooth and loves all things sugar, spice, and everything nice. 

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Fun fact: Skyler can do a one-handed cartwheel and touch her tongue to her nose.

skyler@ngtenniseducation.org 

Coach TC is from Norwalk, born and raised. He started in the Norwalk Grassroots Tennis program in 1996 and hasn't stopped playing tennis ever since. He’s been a certified Teaching Pro Since 2010, and worked at tennis clubs such as New Canaan Racquet Club, Woodway Country Club of Darien and Chelsea Piers. TC is also the coach of the Brian Mcmahon High School Varsity Boys tennis team for the last three years. He has been an active member of the awesome Grassroots staff since 2021.  

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Fun Fact: TC has portable index fingers! 

antonio@ngtenniseducation.org 

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

- Arthur Ashe

“Start each day with a grateful heart.”

“Life waits for no one." 

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“Experience should be a plus as long as it doesn't become complacency. If you say, 'We're not going to change; we didn't do it that way before,' then you've become too old.

- Marv Levy