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Going Back To Athens – Day 2

March 17, 2015 by C.J. Stewart

Sunday, March 15

It’s normally tough for me to get good sleep in a hotel but this Holiday Inn in Athens is on “fleek” as our Ambassadors would say.

The buffet breakfast was great. We were shocked that there was still any food left because we are sharing the same hotel with the University of Missouri baseball team. They are in Athens facing the UGA Dogs for a weekend SEC series.

Talk about empowerment. I wish that I could have recorded the conversations between the Ambassadors and the Missouri baseball team while in the hotel last night. You would have been proud of them Atlanta.

After breakfast, Kelli and I had a quick workout with Missouri Assistant Coach Kerrick Jackson before we headed to the field for the game.

Kerrick is the only black coach in the SEC which is arguably the top baseball conference in the NCAA.

Kerrick Jackson

Like L.E.A.D., he is striving daily to increase the number of black athletes thriving in the NCAA in baseball and academics. Currently, less than 5% of NCAA student-baseball players are black.

After that big breakfast, we took a pass on driving our Enterprise Vans and walked 30 minutes to Foley Field for the game.

All the Ambassadors got silent as we approached Foley Field. They were completely engaged and respected the opportunity to be empowered.

Missouri out hit UGA today and got the win.

We took a short walk to Smoothie King and another 30 minute walk back to the hotel. I was impressed with their staff. They served all 34 of us in a very short period of time. We shut the place down.

CJ: What does it take to be a student-athlete at UGA?

Ambassador Vernard Kennedy (Sophomore, New Schools at Carver): It takes commitment to not only your school work, but as
player also. In the word “student-athlete” student comes first. You have to do your work and be able to perform on the baseball field. You also have to be a benefit to your team and school and be a great representative of what is expected of you.

L.E.A.D. Ambassador Patrique McMahon and Aaron Schunk, The Lovett School (UGA signee)

CJ: What does it take to be a student-athlete at UGA?

Ambassador D’Anthony Morrow (Junior, Benjamin E. Mays High School): To attend UGA as a student-athlete, you must be coachable, responsible, respectable and humble. You must be an exceptional student and athlete. You must commit to the G!

CJ: What does it take to be a student-athlete at UGA?

Ambassador Byron Brinkley (Sophomore, Charles Drew Charter School): You have to have great grades, great attitude and great athletic ability.

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Going Back To Athens – Day 1

March 15, 2015 by C.J. Stewart

Saturday, March 14

Follow the leader. Well today, L.E.A.D. is following our Executive Director Kelli Stewart. She was born in Atlanta and raised in Athens, GA. She graduated from Cedar Shoals High School in Athens and was a standout cadet in the JROTC under the leadership of Sgt. Sonny Fincher.

Today our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors were led through a JROTC obstacle course to prepare them for the obstacles that they will continue to face in their lives. Sgt. Fincher was joined by LTC Eric Cleveland and 1SG. Antoine Clark who currently serve as the leadership of the Cedar Shoals High School JROTC.

Childhood was not easy for Kelli at all. JROTC saved my wife and Sgt. Fincher is a hero. He gave Kelli to me in marriage and I grateful that The Lord still has him in our lives. He’s a good man.

Before the fun began, here are a few quotes that these three men shared that provide great context for the obstacle course.

Thank you for sharing this one Sgt. Fincher. “Life is tough. Life is even more tough when you are stupid.” -John Wayne

“Doing the right thing may not be the popular thing. Leaders do the right thing all the time.” 1SG Antoine Clark

Authority exists because the people in authority cares about you. The authority figure doesn’t exist to give you a hard time. Don’t fight authority – use them. They are a tool for you to use. -LTC Eric Cleveland

Repelling

There is one way up and one way down. I was 25 feet high. From 25 feet, I could see what my teammates couldn’t see that were on the ground. -L.E.A.D. Ambassador Jaquavious Gaither, New Schools at Carver

Wall Climbing

I had to trust myself. The wall represents life. The backpack represented racism. I got over the wall with the backpack on. -L.E.A.D. Ambassador Jarrod Rome, Benjamin E. Mays High School

Monkey Bars

The monkey bars are like life. Life can be slippery and you have to tighten your grip and move forward. -L.E.A.D. Ambassador Jatavius Ponder, New Schools at Carver

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Good for who?

March 10, 2015 by C.J. Stewart

Today, I despise the words “good for you”. Ironically, these are the selfish words that negatively empowered me the most prior to 2007.

In 2007, I was 31 years of age and living my dream working as a private hitting coach in the amateur baseball Mecca of East Cobb, GA. I was making good money, and rightfully taking credit for the development of 1st round draft picks and Major Leaguers.

At 31, I was also selfish as hell.

As a child, I dreamed of being rich and famous so that I could move to the suburbs and away from “my people” in the inner city of Atlanta. Television, movies and well meaning adults taught me that. I can’t tell you how many times I heard people tell me, “Get yours and when you do, don’t look back!”

BUT God had another plan. In 2007, He called me to lead in Atlanta.

When I share the mission and vision of L.E.A.D. with others, often times without fail I get a response of “good for you”.I immediately respond with “no…its good for you, too!”

Atlanta is regarded as a world class city and I’m confused on how that can be. L.E.A.D. exists because Atlanta can’t truly be considered a world class city until black males in Atlanta by the hundreds of thousands experience sustainable significance. Significance is greater than success.

What does living a life of significance look like for Black males in a world class city?

It looks like: on-time graduation, real investment into sports programming, not just equipment, but bona fide, proven programming and a resolute focus on prevention versus rehabilitation as it pertains to youth. It looks like year round core value training in our schools as a required school course and via our sports programs. When we have a cradle to CEO pipeline instead of a cradle to prison/grave pipeline, then Atlanta will be a world class city.

C.J. Stewart with L.E.A.D. Ambassadors Denzel Campbell (left) and Desmond Stegall (right)

For now, we’re a City that is experiencing significant economic growth and expansion and that’s good. But let us not forget that we are also a City whose children are dying right before our very eyes, everyday, while we cut ribbons and welcome new companies to our communities. It’s happening on our watch.

And that is really sad.

If you want to do something about this and make sure that all economic growth, expansion and revitalization is indeed good for ALL of Atlanta’s citizenry, then join me. We are empowering a generation of Black boys who will grow up to become an electorate that is responsible, civically engaged, knowledgable and gainfully employed. And we need your help to do this great work.

C.J. Stewart with U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson

Reach out to our executive director, Kelli Stewart (kelli.stewart@lead2legacy.org), and she will help you get involved.

S.I.T. To Encourage & Empower Atlanta Public Schools Student-Athletes

March 2, 2015 by C.J. Stewart

L.E.A.D.’s mission is to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city – Atlanta. L.E.A.D. is successfully living out its mission and is having an amazing impact in the lives of the youth that we serve in Atlanta Public Schools. Over the last seven years and beginning with our first class of graduating Ambassadors (2008), L.E.A.D. Ambassadors have graduated from high school at a rate of 100% and gone on to college at a rate of 95%.

C.J. Stewart and the L.E.A.D. Ambassadors showcasing their L.E.A.D. Champions Rings by Jostens

Results like this are only sustainable if we have the community supporting our student-athletes. If you are looking for a way to serve that will have significant impact, then we need you to S.I.T. which stands for Simple, Intentional and Transformative.

Here’s what we need you to do:

S – It’s Simple. Simply attend one of our Middle School Character Development League games this spring. View our calendar of events at Lead2Legacy.org and commit to a game today.

I – Be Intentional. Commit to staying at least 3 innings and let your voice be heard. Cheer on the teams as they play their hearts out in front of a packed crowd.

T – Transformative. By simply being intentional, you will have a transformative effect in the lives of the young men on the field. To look into the bleachers and see cheering fans will make our young men feel valued and loved. Your encouragement will lead to their empowerment.

Encouraging mentors to attend L.E.A.D. Middle School games

So go over to Lead2Legacy.org and click on the EVENTS tab or click here to go directly to our calendar. Choose a game and come S.I.T. a spell…you’ll be glad you did!

Coach Ralph Berry is the head coach at Sylvan Hills Middle School

Let’s Talk About Race – Day 28

March 1, 2015 by C.J. Stewart

#LetsTalkAboutRace

Why should racism end Allen?

Life’s 2 most rewarding & difficult commandments stated 2,000 years ago by human civilizations’ most quoted teacher:

Jesus said: Love God & Love Others.

Unless you’ve never read the Bible, these two commands sum up the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus came to give this simple clarity to all people.

You and me and every child, woman & man we are all God’s creation and worthy of love, respect, kindness and consideration. In my selfishness and desire for my own comfort and entertainment these two commands are enough for daily strength training and personal conviction. I can’t do these two things without acknowledging God and asking prayerfully for Jesus’ help in humbling myself to love others. It is a daily discipline that helps me grow. I struggle often but I know it is God’s will for me to pursue these two clear goals every moment. This is how we dismantle racism.

Allen Bell
@wallenbell

L.E.A.D., Inc. | L.E.A.D. Center For Youth