INTRODUCTION

History serves as our greatest window into what it means to be an American by revealing, in hindsight, how we fell short of our constitutional ideals and why we must continue to aspire to them. The lessons of the Negro Leagues are most notable for the achievements of the men who played the game and were never given their full due, not just as sports heroes, but as inspirational examples of America at its best.

This is why the Negro Leagues were also baseball at its best, as a path to pride, community, and athletic achievement.

In honor of the Negro Leagues, in the spirit of community, and with the mission to elevate the understanding of this most important part of our cultural and social history, we introduce the L.E.A.D. Barnstorming Tour.

In the Summer of 2023, the L.E.A.D. Ambassadors—an aspiring team of Atlanta Public School student athletes—will travel across Georgia to take part in the sport they love. At each stop along the way, the program will include L.E.A.D.’s Breaking Barriers clinics, where the Ambassadors will have a chance to share their knowledge of baseball and instruct younger local children on the skills and nuances of the game. That will be followed by an exhibition baseball game against a local high school team. And then, players, families, friends and fans will enjoy a special screening and panel discussion of the award-winning documentary, “The Other Boys of Summer”, a film about racism, segregation and civil rights in America, told through the lives of the Negro League baseball players.

As a leading organization in the region, your partnership will support the young men of L.E.A.D. and allow the organization to expand and include many more student athletes in their yearly academic, athletic, civic and commerce programming. You will have access to hundreds of attendees, and tens of thousands of viewers who will learn of the Tour through local media coverage that will deliver hundreds of thousands of impressions. And as a platform that will be aligned with your brand and values, you will have a chance to match your belief in the virtues of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness with actions that are delivering a meaningful positive impact to the next generation of young Black men.

We welcome your thoughtful consideration of this opportunity.

The title L.E.A.D. Ambassador is not given, it can only be earned. L.E.A.D. has stood the test of time, and over the past decade has delivered stats for the youth in Atlanta that are second to none.

Austin Evans

2015 L.E.A.D. Ambassador Alum 2022 adidas Honoring Black Excellence Honoree