Empowering Black boys and girls through the games of tennis and baseball

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - If you are a student living at or below the poverty line or struggling in school, trying something new might make you think differently about all kinds of things.

“We use the sport of baseball for boys and tennis for girls to help them overcome crime, poverty, and racism,” said CJ Stewart, founder of LEAD Center for Youth.

Students at the LEAD Center for Youth are learning how to play sports but also about life — how to show up for school, for each other, and for themselves. The organization has worked with thousands of kids in the 17 years their doors have been open.

Baseball became a way for one of LEAD Center for Youth’s founders to build a life despite his struggles growing up. He eventually played with the Chicago Cubs. He said he is trying to build that same bridge for community kids.

“Everybody experiences stress. When that stress is not buffered it becomes trauma. It changes the way you think. It changes the way you act. To be able to have access to healthy buffers, that is expensive,” said Stewart.

The LEAD Center works with students from Atlanta Public Schools who live at or below the poverty line. The students are brought into the program, but they have to maintain good behavior, grades, and attendance to stay in. The organization also makes sure students can get to practice through pick up and drop off.

“Sports are a proven antidote to relieving stress. A lot of the kids we are serving live in communities where that is not feasible,” said Stewart.

Some photos in the story courtesy of iSmooth Media or @ismoothllc on Instagram

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