They are gifts to the world


In a world with so many technological advances that allow us to move through life with ease, it’s relatively easy to forget about the most precious asset we have here on Earth: each other. Human capital is by far any organization’s most important line item on its financial statements, whether those in charge want to accept it or not.


Within L.E.A.D., the young men we serve in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools are without a doubt the most important part of our organization. Our 12-month programming solely focuses on developing them across four pillars: academics, athletics, civic responsibility and commerce. Through these pillars, we are able to develop young men who society has counted out into Ambassadors who not only want to succeed for themselves, but also for the betterment of the community and world.

The Christmas season by far has become one of the most selfish times of the year. In an effort to help my Ambassadors focus on something other than the gifts they want, I asked a few of them to to tell me how they are gifts to the world. The responses that follow aren’t scripted; they are what happens when you begin to change hearts and not just minds.


L.E.A.D. Co-founder C.J. Stewart
L.E.A.D. Ambassador Jalen Cannon (B.E.S.T. Academy): I’m a gift to the world because I plan to help make the world a better place.

L.E.A.D. Ambassador Byron Brinkley (Charles Drew Charter High School): I’m a gift to the world because I am determined and will do what is necessary to make this world a better place.


L.E.A.D. Ambassador Byron Brinkley
L.E.A.D. Ambassador D’Angelo Julio (South Atlanta High School): I’m a gift to the world because I will make history that benefits the world.

L.E.A.D. Ambassador Tyquavious Noland (Maynard Jackson High School): I’m a gift to the world because I’m accountable to my family, L.E.A.D. and success.


L.E.A.D. Ambassador Tyquavious Noland
L.E.A.D. Ambassador Ryan Martin (Benjamin E. Mays High School): I’m a gift to the world because I add value to my community and my school through leadership.

We prayed and we marched because it works


This afternoon, I had the pleasure of marching to seek peace for the city of Atlanta and the country along with my fellow members of Elizabeth Baptist Church (EBC).

Dr. Craig L. Oliver led over 834 Elizabeth Baptist Church members for a 3.5 mile March from our Atlanta location. Along the march we had several pastors from our church praying for peace for our city of Atlanta as well as our country.


I was fortunate to march in the rear along with my wife Kelli Stewart, daughters (Mackenzi and Mackenna) as well as a few of our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors.



God bless Dr. Oliver for his vision and leadership.

Marching worked successfully “back in the day” and can work now also when it is done intentionally. Everyone that knows about Elizabeth Baptist Church knows that we are intentional.

With so much chaos in our country, there is plenty to pray about while marching.

As a dedicated member of EBC, I vow to continue to serve Atlanta with excellence through L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct).

Thank you EBC for your vision, modeling of excellence, prayers and continued support of L.E.A.D.

Why and how I fight for productivity

I’ve always had high aspirations and standards for myself yet being unproductive looms over me because I’m human. Awareness, accountability and action help me be productive.
 

When I’m productive, I learn well. When I’m productive, I serve well. When I’m productive, I love well.

Awareness
 
We all have blind spots, and the best way to counter being unproductive is to be aware of them. The blind spots that prevent me from being productive are arrogance, stubbornness and failure to actively listen.
 

Accountability
 

Without having people in your life that you can trust, you will never be productive. I keep trusted people around me that will hold me accountable. They often tell me what I don’t want to hear, but I trust them. They want me to be productive because when I am, I can learn well, serve well and love well.
 
Action
 

Sometimes I get so focused on being perfect that I fail to get started. Being productive begins with getting started.


What prevents you from being productive?
 

What serves as a catalyst for your productive behavior?

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Have we reached 1st round draft pick status yet?

If you are an Atlanta Falcons fan, let’s face it, this is not quite the season you had in mind. On paper, the Falcons have a lot of offensive weapons and you would assume that they could score enough points to win every Sunday. However, the reality is that the Falcons currently have a record of 5-7, mediocre at best. 


The City of Atlanta also looks good on paper as well, but we are tanking in a war that we can’t afford to lose.

According to the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta ranks third in the nation among cities with the most FORTUNE 500 Headquarters, according to the 2012 FORTUNE list. Since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, the city has consistently ranked in the top five cities with the most FORTUNE 500 Headquarters. Twenty-six metro Atlanta headquartered companies placed among the latest FORTUNE 1,000, of which thirteen are among the FORTUNE 500. Fourteen FORTUNE 1,000 companies headquartered in metro Atlanta ranked higher on the FORTUNE list than in 2011. Metro Atlanta’s headquartered FORTUNE 1,000 companies generated aggregate revenues of $321.2 billion, of which 90 percent was attributed to the FORTUNE 500.



With all of that said, Georgia ranks at the bottom in America in education, while America ranks at the bottom in the world. 

Georgia ranks number one in America for incarceration, while America ranks number one in the world.

Atlanta Public Schools serves 50,000+ students K-12 while 80% of those students live at or below the poverty level and 60% of black males don’t graduate from high school (at all or on time). In addition, 80% of Georgia’s Prison population consists of youth from inner-city Atlanta zip codes 30310, 30315 and 30318. One more thing, Georgia leads America with the most non-profits per state. Excuse my sarcasm here – how badly do we need to fail our children in order to get people to the table whose sole agenda is the empowerment of our children?

Members of the 2014-2015 Ambassador Class w/ Mike Hobbs (Partner, Troutman Sanders)

If we’re willing to be transparent, we all have agendas in Atlanta, including me. My agenda through L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct) is to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their City of Atlanta. As we continue to be successful as an organization, our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors will lead Atlanta to lead the world.

We have a lot of people in Atlanta doing a lot of great things while black males continue to drop out of high school and go to jail. How can this be?

Atlanta has earned the title ‘the City too busy to hate’. Unfortunately, we also seem to be the City too busy to support and scale programs that are actually on the ground floor, in the trenches and getting results. 


Like the new Georgia Dome coming out of the ground on the Vine City horizon – it’s time to Rise Up. 

For children this time and not just for profit.

Click here to check out L.E.A.D.’s impact stats.

I’m thankful


Everyday is a day of thanksgiving. I especially enjoy celebrating the holiday Thanksgiving because it causes a pause in the world so that Jesus can get the spotlight.

I’m most thankful today for being a follower of Christ as well as having a sound mind and health. It is truly an honor and privilege to be the husband of an amazing wife Kelli Stewart as well as being the father of Mackenzi and Mackenna Stewart.


I thank God for my parents, grandparents, siblings, additional family members, love ones and friends.

Thank you God for allowing me to be born and raised in a country that allows me to freely speak your name.

I’m thankful that I can lead Atlanta with the L.E.A.D. Ambassadors as well as your support.

Thank you Jesus for your continued mercy and grace.

Amen.