L.E.A.D. is creating a new student-athlete

Our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and Jr. Ambassadors Orientation was a success this weekend at the Atlanta Public Schools Lakewood Stadium Office of Athletics. We orientated 65 middle and high school age African-American males as well as their parents. It was packed.

L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and Jr. Ambassadors Orientation on Sunday, May 19, 2013

After decades of media reports about African-American males not wanting to play baseball, L.E.A.D. continues to prove that theory wrong. We have a waiting list of student-athletes from the Atlanta Public School System that want to play and use baseball to access college. 

L.E.A.D. was established in 2007 by my wife Kelli Stewart and I. We started with the development of 25 high school Ambassadors. Many of them are graduating from college in 2013. L.E.A.D. Ambassador alum Joseph McCrary graduated magna cum laude two weeks ago from Savannah State University.

In 2010, L.E.A.D. brought baseball to the middle school level within Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Prior to L.E.A.D., middle school baseball never existed in APS. We started with four partner middle schools in 2010 and gradually added more schools. We will add two more for a total of 10 partner middle schools for the 2013-2014 calendar school year. 

L.E.A.D.'s mission is to create positive outcomes for at risk minority inner city youth by leveraging the relationship between education, athletics and service. We offer year round programming to ensure a consistent relationship with the young men that we serve. The only way that you can effectively mentor someone is by...

1. First, presenting the mentee with something of value. For L.E.A.D., using baseball to provide our Ambassadors with access to college is something of high value. 60% of Atlanta Public School's African-American males will not graduate from high school 

2. Second, developing a relationship is key. Most adults start here by visiting students at schools for Career Day, etc. We develop our relationship with our student-athletes in the fall with our Legacy League which begins a new calendar year for L.E.A.D. 

3. Third, you must have consistent interaction with the mentee so that they can begin to trust you. As mentioned, L.E.A.D. offers year round programming in the areas of academics, baseball, service and enrichment. We are creating a new student-athlete. 

4. If all of the above occurs, you have now earned the trust of your mentee and he will now follow your lead. 

Come meet our Ambassadors and Jr. Ambassadors this summer at one of our games, practices, and even our service projects. Click here to view our summer schedule.

The L.E.A.D. Jr. Ambassadors being fitted by Derek Kopkin of MizunoUSA.com.  Coach Bakari Moore (B.E.S.T. Academy) making sure that everything fits.  Mizuno is a proud part of L.E.A.D.

L.E.A.D. Today...Change Tomorrow!