Breaking Barriers

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breaking barriers | by Ted Gilbreath, Director of Strategic Programs & Courtney Fowler, Director of Communications and Marketing

Lovett returned to on-campus programming on July 6 with three athletic camps, one of which was “Breaking Barriers: Baseball and Leadership,” run by current Lovett parent, C.J. Stewart. The camp grew from a planned enrichment program within the Lovett afterschool curriculum, which never ran due to the school’s March switch to virtual learning.

In his professional life, C.J., an Atlanta native and former Chicago Cubs outfielder, is one of the top baseball player development professionals in the country. Several years ago, he and his wife, Kelli, founded L.E.A.D. (Launch. Expose. Advise. Direct.), an organization whose mission is to empower an atrisk generation to lead and transform Atlanta. Using baseball, L.E.A.D. helps Black boys overcome three curve balls that threaten their success: crime, poverty, and racism.

In 2011, Lovett began its relationship with L.E.A.D. via a partnership between the baseball program and the organization, says Varsity Assistant Coach Jamie Palmer. Over the years, the team worked with L.E.A.D. on baseball camps for Atlanta Public Schools middle

schoolers as well as visits to the Fulton County Jail. Most recently, coaches have selected several Lovett players to participate in an annual L.E.A.D event called the Human Ambassador Project; the event, held at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, was developed to “foster understanding and community between the youth of di erent races.”

In 2018, L.E.A.D. added the Breaking Barriers Baseball Camp to its programs. The camp, conducted by L.E.A.D. Ambassadors, provided baseball skills training as well as character and leadership skills programming to children in grades 2-5. These Ambassadors—all Atlanta Public School student-athletes—not only encouraged and nurtured the young campers’ passion for baseball but also provided the participants a chance to build relationships with young men whose life experiences are extraordinarily di erent from their own. Bonded over their shared love of the game, both campers and counselors benefitted from the opportunity to learn from one another. Fifteen kids participated in the Breaking Barriers camp on the Riverbank this summer.

Campers enthusiastically answered “yes” when asked if they were enjoying the camp, and clearly adored their counselors, who they followed all over the baseball facility, regardless of whether they were engaged in baseball activities or taking a break. Parents, as well, were e usive in their praise of the camp.

Although longtime partners of Lovett through their non-profit organization, the Stewarts joined our community as a family last fall when their youngest daughter started in Middle School. The family quickly threw themselves head, heart, and soul into the Lovett community, according to Director of Admission and Enrollment Management, Janie Beck. “Kelli and C.J. are always willing to make time to discuss questions or ideas I might have related to admission, retention, and community engagement. Their warmth and generosity is a real gift to Lovett.”