LEAD

Baseball Development Program for Young Men | Atlanta, Georgia

Disney Magic in Atlanta!

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Good old fashion hospitality is the secret sauce behind the Disney magic. There is an amazing culture created here. The best part? It can be duplicated.

It starts with having people involved that want to be involved. Disney employees seem more like investors in the Disney Corporation than just employees.

The second of many ingredients is good leadership. Someone is taking the time to make sure that all i’s are dotted and t’s crossed. Careful planning and execution is critical to providing a memorable experience.

I realize that Disney wasn’t created over night. It started with a mission and vision a long, long time ago. That mission and vision was so clear and that is why millions of people throughout the world can leave Orlando, Florida with a smile on their face compliments of Mickey.

I’m having more fun here recognizing the people that are delivering the experience than riding the rides. Maybe I’m alone on this one but I’m a fan of serving others. Sanitation jobs are revered out here. The parking attendants could sign autographs if they wanted to.

We are mixing up the L.E.A.D. sauce and glad that you are willing to try it. We aren’t perfect but we strive to provide a wonderful, memorable experience for everyone that is involved with our year round program; from the student-athletes on the diamond to the spectators in the stand.

L.E.A.D. is providing Disney Magic in Atlanta!

Career Day the Grove Park Way!

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I heard the word entrepreneur for the first time when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade at Grove Park Elementary. Of course there were doctors, lawyers and engineers in the building but that wasn’t what I wanted to do when I “grew up”. I am so thankful that our school principal Mrs. Jones made sure that we had a large variety of careers represented that day.

Fast forward over 25 years and today I was able to have several of my dear friends share their careers with students at Grove Park. Exposure still means so much to me as an adult as I strive for excellence. That same exposure is what is needed to mold our students in APS. Like the old saying goes “you know what you know and you don’t know what you don’t know”. Our students are capable of being great but it is our responsibility to expose them to tomorrow’s positive realities today!

Special thanks to Grove Park’s Principal Caitlin Sims and school counselor Ramia Cook for organizing the successful event. Thank you to my wonderful friends for pouring yourselves into the Grove Park students. L.E.A.D. Today…Change Tomorrow!

Jeff Johnson-Peachtree TV
Kristi Dosh-www.ItsASwingAndAMiss.com Chadd Scott-Sports Radio Personality Kevin Donovan-Helios Partners (Marketing)
Patty Rasmussen-Freelance writer
Darrin Woley-Ignition (Marketing)

I will be updating this list with others guest presenters that were at Grove Park today.

Time for a good time

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This has been a great vacation and much needed for the Stewart family.

My time in Orlando has allowed me to hear the laughter of my daughters as they swim in pool.  We go throughout the day without a set schedule and I use my iPhone mostly for photo taking.  We haven’t seen Mickey at Disney yet but he looks good in our Braves gear.

Being here makes me realize that I needed a timeout.  When you love what you do, the last thing that you want is a break from it. I love baseball and I love L.E.A.D. and it has been good to charge the batteries back up under the hot Florida sun.

Time down here will be used to appreciate one another in the Stewart house.  The girls can scream as loud as they want to and stay up really late.  They deserve it.  Kelli has been able to get some good rest and that makes me happy because she wears her cape everyday back home.  I’m simply enjoying the ability to wear sandals and my Ambassadors visor.

It’s Friday and our time is almost up.  Headed back to the ATL on Sunday and ready to work on Monday. In the meantime, my batteries aren’t fully charged yet.  We miss y’all and we are having a good time.

High expectations

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It is no secret that inner city schools struggle to meet the bar of academic achievement.  Know one has the perfect plan but the key is to have a plan.  APS has some of the most talented and dedicated teachers that you will ever find.  That is why I am encouraged that Atlanta Public Schools will produce more Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Ceasar Mitchell’s in the future.

I am fortunate to have my organization L.E.A.D. to be a partner with the Atlanta Public School System through the Atlanta Partners for Education program. This allows me to be a part of the solution.

Within L.E.A.D., we meet our middle and high school male students where they are.  We are dealing with at risk male students but our expectations are extremely high for them.  We offer year round baseball programs with a methodology that helps everyone stay on track towards graduating from high school and enrolling into college.  We realize and accept that it takes a village to raise a child.

Some students have risk factors that are more serious than others and we are sensitive to that but every student has the potential to be great and it is my responsibility to set the bar high for every young man in my organization.  If a young man falls, it is also my responsibility to pick him up but push him forward.

One of the pillars of excellence in L.E.A.D. is exposure.  I truly feel that a young man is less likely to fail if he is exposed to a high level of success on a continuous basis.   High expectations has graduated 100% of our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors from high school and they all enrolled in college.   High expectations within APS produced Dr. Martin Luther King from Booker T. Washington High School  and Ceasar Mitchell from Benjamin Elijah Mays High School.

I am honored to be a part of the solution and I encourage you to do the same by joining our L.E.A.D. Tailgate Club at www.Lead2Legacy.org.

If not me, who?  If not now, when?  High expectations is more than a buzz phrase for me.  The bar will continue to be raised high by L.E.A.D. within APS.

God is in control

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The view is so clear from up here as I fly into Orlando with Braves baseball on my mind. Number 22 in right field is a living testimony that dreams become real. What does tomorrow hold? I don’t know, but I rest assured that God is in control!

I want tomorrow to bring me more resources so that more African American males will graduate from APS high schools and enter college. More resources will allow me to provide more mentors that can show them the way. These young men are smart contrary to popular belief. They need mentorship on a consistent basis more than math tutors. They need to understand how to manage their own lives. They don’t want to fail but failure is the only option when no one will walk the walk with you.

I want next week to bring me more resources so that more African American males in Atlanta will compete in baseball rather than just playing baseball. What is the difference? To compete requires skill development which demands sacrifice, patience and commitment from both the player and the coach. To play only requires showing up. The rigors of baseball have prepared me to be a successful professional off the baseball field. It can do the same for many other young men in inner city Atlanta. Baseball and baseball only made academics relevant for me.

I want next month to bring me more resources so that more African American males in Atlanta can understand the true meaning of leadership through service and civic engagement. Leadership is an action word and not just an adjective. Leadership doesn’t have a starting age. Service begins now! There is no reason that young men in Atlanta shouldn’t have opportunities to be involved in service every month throughout the year. If we want them “straighten up”, we have to first meet them where they are and L.E.A.D. the way.

I want next year to bring me more resources so that more African American males in Atlanta can be exposed to the amazing opportunities that exist right here in our city. We have more Fortune 100 companies in Atlanta than any other city in America. We can do more than taking a bus load of students on a field trip. What is the follow up? We peak their interest but what happens when the flame dies out.

Only God knows the destination of L.E.A.D. He has placed me in a leadership position to lead and I humbly accept it. I’m at the top of this vision and it is my daily prayer for wisdom and courage to fulfill the mission of L.E.A.D. We Launch, Expose, Advise and Direct! We achieve excellence in Academics, Athletics, Service/Civic Engagement and Exposure!

God is in control!

L.E.A.D. Stewardship Reports

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L.E.A.D., Inc. | L.E.A.D. Center For Youth
680 Murphy Avenue
Suite #4128
Atlanta GA, 30310
info@lead2legacy.org
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