Using Sports to Empower An At-Risk Generation

Using Sports to Empower An At-Risk Generation

Presented by C.J. and Kelli Stewart Co-Founders of L.E.A.D. Center For Youth

L.E.A.D.

L.E.A.D. Center For Youth is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization operating in Atlanta, Georgia. Through sport based youth development (SBYD) programming, L.E.A.D. is inspiring and equipping Black youth with the empowerment they need to live sustainable lives of significance. The organization uses baseball to teach student-athletes how to overcome three curveballs that threaten their success: crime, poverty, and racism.

We scout the counted out.

L.E.A.D. FOUNDERS

C.J. STEWART is an Atlanta native, a former Chicago Cubs outfielder, and an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. He has earned the recognition of being one of the top baseball player development professionals in the country. He used baseball to overcome statistics and become a compassionate, engaged member of society.

KELLI STEWART was born in Atlanta and raised in Crawford, Georgia. Under the nurturing and protective guidance of her grandmother, Amy Lou Faust, she learned about work ethic and service. She holds a wealth of knowledge in sport based youth development as a resource for social justice and the impact sports has on the social emotional development of youth.

ORIGIN STORIES MATTER

L.E.A.D. BEGINS WITH C.J. STEWART

C.J. was born into financial, relational, and systemic poverty in 1976.

He was a “Grady Baby”—born African American, poor, and raised in Bankhead, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Atlanta.

He played youth baseball, received a baseball scholarship to Georgia State University, and was drafted twice by the Cubs.

C.J. played in the Minor Leagues of professional baseball and did not make it to the Major League level.

C.J. worked as a trainer and coach for some of baseball’s top players and rising stars.

ORIGIN STORIES MATTER

L.E.A.D. BEGINS WITH C.J. STEWART

It became clearer to C.J. that his calling was to impact boys in Atlanta who were born like him—poor, underprivileged, under-resourced, “counted out.”

ORIGIN OF L.E.A.D. CENTER FOR YOUTH

FOUNDED IN 2007

L.E.A.D. Center For Youth facilitates a range of SBYD programs consisting of activities across four pillars of focus:

SPORT-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

SBYD is the intentional use of sports to break down the various barriers that prevent marginalized youth from having access to the resources they need to live sustainable lives of success and significance.

Sports

provide valuable life lessons and access to educational and civic engagement opportunities.

We have empowered an at-risk generation of black boys to lead and transform their city by using the sport of baseball to overcome three curveballs that threaten their success: crime, poverty, and racism.

CRITICAL CHANGE CONSTRUCT

to our boys, their families, and our donors CONNECTION

CRITICAL CHANGE CONSTRUCT

CONSENSUS

building through culturally relevant programming

CRITICAL CHANGE CONSTRUCT on challenges and solutions COLLABORATION

CRITICAL