I’m biased but I think that Atlanta is the best city in America. So much history and so much innovation. We are an international city that sets many trends.

We have gotten away from something that we were once known for. Did you know that several influential men wanted a baseball team in Atlanta so bad that they went to Milwaukee and purchased the Braves before we even had a stadium. Did you know that Aaron’s Rents founder Charlie Loudermilk provided chairs and tents to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movements. Charlie jeopardized the success of his business for another Atlantan despite him being black.

These are two classic examples of the “Atlanta Way”.  L.E.A.D. was created with the “Atlanta Way” in mind. My blessings are your blessings.

L.E.A.D. is a year round youth development organization that uses baseball to provide access to college for inner city Atlanta males. We serve over 180 student-athletes annually with four signature programs. Since 2007, 100% of our Ambassadors graduate from high school and enroll in college while 89% of them enroll with a baseball scholarship. As an organization, we complete over 2,200 community service hours annually.

With Christmas right around the corner, I have a gift request to ask of you for the Ambassadors. Click here to “Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter.  It is only through continuous prayers and community support that L.E.A.D. will continue to thrive.

We are Atlanta and there is a need for L.E.A.D. L.E.A.D. is more than me. L.E.A.D. is also you. L.E.A.D. is we and we are Atlantans.

Click here to enjoy our newly designed L.E.A.D. website and we look forward to serving with you in 2012. It’s the “Atlanta Way”.

As an 8-year-old African-American male living in Atlanta, GA, I dreamed of playing professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs and becoming a “businessman” as my back up plan.

Over the years, I’ve had hundreds of people pour into me to make my dreams a reality; I did play for the Chicago Cubs and I am a successful business owner and philanthropist.

Thank God for my mom and dad and my family. Thank God for the Atlanta Public School System (APS) and all of my Grove Park Elementary School teachers. Thank God for the patience of my first baseball coach Emmett Johnson who still serves on the APS School Board. Thank God for  my wife, daughters, all of my coaches, teachers, principals, mentors and friends. Without you, success for me still would have remained a dream.

Yesterday evening, I along with several of my L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and their family were recognized and honored by the Atlanta Public School Superintendent Erroll Davis as well as the APS Board of Education. The room was packed and they gave us a standing ovation for our continued commitment to excellence. Since 2007, 100% of my Ambassadors have graduated from high school and enrolled in college while 89% of my Ambassadors have enrolled in college with a baseball scholarship.

Standing behind my Ambassadors last night was a strong woman who has supported L.E.A.D. from the start. APS School Board Chairwoman Brenda Muhammad has been our #1 fan because of her passion for excellence in academics, athletics and community engagement.  Her expectations are high and we aim to please.

It was so fitting for me to shake the hand of my first baseball coach Emmett Johnson last night as we were being honored. Maybe he knew all along that I wanted to become a leader and a change agent throughout the country. It just goes to show the positive influence that coaches have on youth. Mentorship matters.

I had to smile and laugh as I was being recognized to keep me from crying tears of joy. Often times, men go without recognition in their own hometown. I strive for excellence everyday while I’m on this Earth because I believe that God has given me a gift. It is also my civic duty to do so.

On behalf of L.E.A.D., I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to APS Superintendent Erroll Davis, APS Chairwoman Brenda Muhammad and the APS School Board for the special recognition. Like me, my Ambassadors have a sense of belonging and investment to the city of Atlanta so we will continue to represent you well.

APS worked for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It worked for me and it works for my Ambassadors. APS works for Atlanta.

Our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors have been selected and the real work has begun.

In our fall Legacy League program, a few Ambassadors expressed some academic struggles that they were experiencing during our daily group reflection time. I am pleased that their grades have improved and met my expectations. Believe it or not, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received a C in a public speaking class while in college.  Like baseball, life is all about making adjustments in order to be successful.

We still have a few disciplinary issues that require attention. As an adult, I am still working hard to learn how to properly express myself. Often times, young adults act out at school and home because they lack sound communication skills. We are looking forward to working with Drew Sisselman on December 18.

We’ve toured the Jimmy Carter Center thanks to my fellow Atlanta West End Rotarian Don Schewe. Exposure is a pillar of excellence for L.E.A.D. and something that we don’t take for granted. As a kid, exposure gave me a sense of belonging and involvement in the great city of Atlanta. We will be welcomed as guest at WSB-TV as well as the Center of Disease and Control (CDC) in the new year.

The Ambassadors continue to raise funds to support individuals and other organizations in need through our annual Dollar Drive. We are donating $200.00 to support Amy Hosier and her family. Amy is a former Georgia Tech All-American that was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. We know that money alone won’t solve the problem and we want Amy and her family to know that we are here to go to bat with her. Click here to go to bat with Amy.

As you can see, we stay busy even when it is too cold to get on the baseball field. We will have our first practice this Saturday at my Diamond Directors indoor training facility. I get excited when I see the Ambassadors. They are committed to my vision and I am committed to theirs.  A perfect partnership.

On behalf of the Ambassadors and the entire L.E.A.D. family, we want to thank you for your continued support and partnership. Our newly designed website will launch soon and provide many ways that you can continue to support us as we continue to graduate our students-athletes from high school and ensure that they enroll in college.

Since 2007, 100% of our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors have graduated from high school and enrolled in college while 89% of them have enrolled with a baseball scholarship. We serve over 180 elementary, middle and high school student-athletes per year.

This impact is intentional! Join us at Lead2Legacy.org.

Barbara Greene

has been a L.E.A.D. volunteer for over a year and she absolutely loves it! Barbara is also a member of L.E.A.D.’s LEADership Council and provides performance coaching to student-athletes in the organization. She is hours away from a degree in Sports Psychology and specializes in helping athletes use positive visualization and other tools to remain confident and motivated.

L.E.A.D.‘s 2nd Annual Dinner With Champions Celebration at Turner Field’s 755 Club

was held on November 20th, the organization honored Michael Russell and Sam Bacote with Legacy Builder Awards for their many contributions to the Atlanta Community.

An Atlanta native, Michael Russell and his family are no strangers to civic leadership in the Atlanta community. An accomplished engineer, Michael serves the community through various organization including the Georgia State University Athletic Association Board, Children’s Healthcare Foundation Board and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

Sam Bacote has served in the Peace Corps and was named as one of the twelve Most Notable Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in Business. Mr. Bacote serves on several community boards including the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Community board that has been instrumental in the transformation of Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital into a Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta facility.

L.E.A.D. also selected its annual Community Partner Award recipients. The following individuals have been instrumental in helping L.E.A.D. carry out its mission in the Atlanta Community:

Kathy Brandt (Rotary), Chuck Dowdle (680 The Fan/Dickey Broadcasting), Tom Hughes (Hope Beckham), Lincoln Martin (Professional MLB Scout), Victor Menocal (Excel Sports Management),  Walter C. Thomas (Tommy’s Barber Shop).