At LEAD Center For Youth, development is more than just a word; it embodies our commitment and mission. We define development as the Deliberate Effort to Value and Empower Learners to Obtain Personal Mastery and Excellence through Nurturing Training.

This definition guides everything we do, especially our highest level of programming, the LEAD Ambassadors. These Black boys from Metropolitan Atlanta are nurtured to become Major League Players and Major League Citizens. Achieving this requires a partnership with LEAD, their parents and additional supporters.

Over the next few weeks, I will break down our development definition, starting with the concept of deliberate effort.

Deliberate Effort in LEAD’s Development Approach

Deliberate effort is at the core of our development philosophy. It’s about intentionality in every action we take, ensuring we create the best possible environment for our youth to thrive. Here are some key examples of how we implement deliberate effort at LEAD:

• Who We Recruit to Develop
• Our Namesake
• What We Wear

Who We Recruit to Develop

We specifically recruit Black American boys from metro Atlanta because this is home for my wife, Kelli, and me. Kelli, the CEO of LEAD, was born in Atlanta and raised in Oglethorpe County. She graduated from Cedar Shoals High School in 1996. I was born and raised in Atlanta, graduating from Westlake High School in 1994.

We now live in Cobb County, with our 5,500-square-foot LEAD Center For Youth indoor training facility located in the Historic West End of Atlanta. Our deliberate focus on serving Black boys from our community is rooted in our personal and professional commitment to giving back to the place that shaped us.

Our Namesake

The LEAD Ambassadors pay homage to U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, a childhood hero of mine and a global icon. Andrew Young supports LEAD and represented the diplomatic and leadership qualities we aim to instill in our youth when he served as the U.S. Ambassador. Just as he and Hank Aaron were present at my baseball games at Cascade Youth Organization (CYO), we strive to be there for our boys, inspiring them to greatness.

The term “Ambassador” signifies a government-designated diplomatic representative, and our LEAD Ambassadors embody this role by promoting the game of baseball and serving as inspirations in Atlanta and beyond.

What We Wear

Our colors, power red and black, are symbolic. Red represents life, and black stands for power. Growing up in Atlanta, I was surrounded by the powerful red of brands like Coca-Cola, the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, Delta, and CNN. These global brands symbolize the strength and vitality we want our boys to associate with.

LEAD, while not yet a household name, is recognized worldwide for our mission since our founding in 2007. Our organization uses baseball and tennis to teach Black youth how to overcome crime, poverty, and racism. Our vision is to develop Black youth into Ambassadors who will lead Atlanta and, ultimately, the world.

At LEAD, excellence is non-negotiable. We lead with deliberate effort to ensure our youth receive the best training and support possible.

Next week, I will delve into how we Value and Empower Learners. Stay tuned as we continue to explore what development means to LEAD Center For Youth.

Remember, this definition belongs to LEAD and cannot be used without our written permission.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

Summer baseball from May to July marks a crucial phase for my hitters. This period serves as a time for maintenance and application, allowing players to put a period on another learning phase before transitioning to the Assessment Phase, which runs from August to October.

During the summer, teams are actively competing across various levels:

• Recreation Teams participate in local tournaments.
• All-Star Teams compete statewide and regionally.
• Travel Teams face off nationally and internationally.

One of the significant differences between these levels of competition lies in the players’ ability to make quick adjustments and consistently replicate their success. Travel Teams, being the elite, excel in this area.

While these players are not ready for Major League Baseball just yet, the top Travel Team players are undoubtedly on the fast track to the MLB.

From my experience in coaching and scouting, I have observed that top-level high school-age Travel Ball pitchers can repeat their delivery and command their pitches about 40-50% of the time. This consistency is critical because if an opposing hitter cannot replicate their swing 40-50% of the time, they will struggle to compete effectively.

Competition at any level means being equally matched, pushing each other toward excellence. But simply sharing a common trait, such as height, does not equate to equal competition—for example, I am no competition for a 6-foot 2-inch NBA basketball player just because we are the same height.

Therefore, this summer, regardless of the level at which you are competing, take note of what you need to improve for the upcoming year from August to May.

Use the Assessment Phase from August to October to experiment with new techniques, determining what works and what doesn’t. This approach will set the foundation for continued growth and success in the sport.

Embrace the summer season as a time to solidify your skills and prepare for the next chapter. Remember, each phase is a stepping stone toward achieving excellence in baseball.

Summer baseball from May to July marks a crucial phase for my hitters. This period serves as a time for maintenance and application, allowing players to put a period on another learning phase before transitioning to the Assessment Phase, which runs from August to October.

During the summer, teams are actively competing across various levels:

• Recreation teams participate in local tournaments
• All-Star teams compete statewide and regionally
• Travel teams face off nationally and internationally

One of the significant differences between these levels of competition lies in the players’ ability to make quick adjustments and consistently replicate their success. Travel teams, being the elite, excel in this area. While these players are not ready for Major League Baseball just yet, the top Travel team players are undoubtedly on the fast track to the MLB.

From my experience in coaching and scouting, I have observed that top-level high school-age Travel Ball pitchers can repeat their delivery and command their pitches about 40%-50% of the time. This consistency is critical because if an opposing hitter cannot replicate their swing 40%-50% of the time, they will struggle to compete effectively.

Competition at any level means being equally matched, pushing each other towards excellence. But simply sharing a common trait, such as height, does not equate to equal competition—for example, I am no competition for a 6-foot 2-inch NBA basketball player just because we are the same height.

Therefore, this summer, regardless of the level at which you are competing, take note of what you need to improve for the upcoming year from August to May. Use the Assessment Phase from August to October to experiment with new techniques, determining what works and what doesn’t. This approach will set the foundation for continued growth and success in the sport.

Embrace the summer season as a time to solidify your skills and prepare for the next chapter. Remember, each phase is a stepping stone toward achieving excellence in baseball.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

While summer is when elite baseball players hit the field for countless games, the teams they choose to play for can make all the difference. Some teams are purely for play, while others ignite a deeper passion within players.

For many, the goal of playing baseball extends beyond just winning games; it’s about securing scholarships, chasing dreams of getting drafted and ultimately making it to the collegiate or professional level.

But for Black American players, the journey often is filled with challenges. Despite their talent and dedication, they face systemic barriers that limit their representation in higher levels of the sport.

As co-founders of LEAD Center For Youth, my wife, Kelli, and I are committed to changing this narrative. Our mission is clear: to use baseball and tennis as tools to equip Black youth with the skills to overcome the curveballs life throws their way—whether it’s crime, poverty or racism.

Baseball has a rich history within the Black community, dating back to the establishment of the Negro Leagues in 1920. These leagues not only showcased incredible talent but also pioneered innovations in the sport, from introducing night games to inventing essential equipment like batting helmets.

Yet, in 2024, we find ourselves still grappling with the question of how to increase Black participation in baseball. While Black boys may be playing the game, they need more than just a team—they need a passion team. That’s where organizations like LEAD come in.

LEAD isn’t just about teaching baseball skills; it’s about instilling a sense of purpose and empowerment in young players. It’s about guiding them from personal success to making a significant impact in their communities as members of the passion team.

Their Play Team is where they are focused on success for themselves, while their Passion Team is a commitment to significance, serving others beyond themselves. We need legions of Black American men in the Major Leagues, and that calls for legions of Black boys competing for Passion Teams at the amateur travel ball levels.

Together, we can transform the game and empower the next generation of Major League Players and Major League Citizens.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.