How you can help lead (and change) the world

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

I’m grateful that I am able to live and lead on purpose everyday as the CEO of L.E.A.D. Inc. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct). That is my why.

I was born and raised in the inner city of Atlanta. As a child, I dreamed of playing professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs and one day becoming a leader like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I watched a lot of Cubs games on television with my Grandfather in the summer. He liked them, so I liked them, too. As an Atlanta Public Schools (APS) student at Grove Park Elementary School in the 1980s, my Grandfather and I talked about Dr. King a lot. Dr. King was also an APS alum, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” — Desmond Tutu

The Facts

• Atlanta Public Schools educates more than 51,927 students grades K-12 with approximately 26,398 being males
• 33.5 percent of Black males either will not graduate on time or at all
• Georgia ranks in the Top 5 in incarceration in America, while America ranks No. 1 in the world
• If you are born into poverty in Atlanta, you have a 4.5 percent chance of making it out

By the tens of thousands, Black males are trapped in generational poverty because of slavery, which was followed by racism that had been supported by government policy before they were ever born.

If this was your story, how could you get free if no one helped you?

The Atlanta Public Schools mission statement is as follows: With a caring culture of trust and collaboration, every student will graduate ready for college and career.

I love APS. Under the consequential leadership of Dr. Meria Carstarphen, the culture of APS has changed.

Among many reasons, L.E.A.D. partners with APS because we are committed to the development of Atlanta’s future leaders who are being educated in APS. It has been done before.

Here are some other good men that are APS alums who have led Atlanta and helped lead the world:

• Truett Cathy
• Donn Clendenon
• Johnny Isakson
• Maynard H. Jackson
• Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
• Herman Russell

Our goals at L.E.A.D. are what drive us. By 2030, a U.S. Congressman will be a L.E.A.D. Ambassador. A L.E.A.D. Ambassador will lead a congregation of 15,000-plus church members. A L.E.A.D. Ambassador will be an Atlanta City Councilman, C-suite executive for an Atlanta based Fortune 100 Company, a chairman of the Atlanta Board of Education.

Photo by Rodney Cofield 

“Atlanta will never become a world-class City until hundreds of thousands of Black males are living a sustainable life of significance.” — C.J. Stewart

For 2019, I will teach our Ambassadors to gain an understanding of the word, bravado. I will also model it for them while mandating that they correct me immediately and consistently when I fail to lead appropriately.

Bravado is a noun that means pretentious; a swaggering display of courage.

Bravado may be perceived as a negative term, especially when attached to young Black males. Being pretentious is characterized by the assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved.

• Are Black males in the inner city of Atlanta underserved?
• Can they escape a mindset of poverty with bravado?
• Do you have confidence that L.E.A.D. can teach and model bravado to our Ambassadors while it models it for thousands of others who live in their community?
• Would you be willing to make a special year-end donation of $50, $100, $500 or more? Or maybe you’d like to make a monthly recurring donation of $10, $20, $30 or more — no donation is too small.

L.E.A.D. vows to remove the gap between your donation and its impact.

Click here to make your donation.

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This guy: Why Antonio Pierce’s rise to prominence should matter to you

I have been developing elite level hitters for more than 21 years. And I would have to admit that Antonio Pierce was one of the least talented athletes I have ever coached.

Before I explain, let me define a couple words I used in the above description.

Coach is something you do to get people from a place of being to a place of becoming. Talent is something that you do well.

Before the word coach was used in the context of sports, it was reserved strictly for transportation. There was a horse, a coachman (who controlled the horse) and a coach where the passengers rested. A coach took you to where you were supposed to be. Today, that doesn't happen as much because too often there is a fear of accountability.

Talent is the beginning. It is followed by habits and skills. Black boys mistakenly want to be called talented. Unfortunately, they don't realize that talent is really starting at the bottom. That’s the reason reading is such a fundamental tool.

Habits are things that you do well repeatedly without thought, while skills are the things that you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.

We all know the saying: Skills pays the bills.

Antonio Pierce will graduate from the New Schools at Carver (Atlanta) in spring 2019. When he does, he will be the first in his immediate family to do so. L.E.A.D. has partnered with Antonio’s family since he was in the eighth grade. It has used its proven Pathway To Empowerment Methodology to move Antonio and hundreds of Atlanta Public Schools Black boys grades sixth through 12, per year.

Today, Antonio is signing a commitment letter to Savannah State University, where he will be a student-athlete in baseball beginning in fall 2019. Here are some of his thoughts on his progression:

Why did you join L.E.A.D. in the eighth grade?
I joined to better my circumstances at home, in my neighborhood and to better myself.

What are other opportunities that you could have have joined in the eighth grade?
None. There’s wasn’t anyone who was offering me what L.E.A.D. had to offer.

On a scale of 1-10, what was your baseball talent level when you joined L.E.A.D.?
1

How many times have you considered dropping out of L.E.A.D. since you joined?
None

Why did you stay?
Because I needed the opportunity and exposure. Because my family and community needs me. I stayed because L.E.A.D. was and still is my performance enhancer. It also delivered on all of its promises.

What world problem do you want to solve?
I want to solve poverty.

What have you learned from L.E.A.D. that will help you solve that world problem?
I have learned that everyone doesn’t want your help. You have to help the people who want your help. It’s my job and responsibility to help my community.

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Here to there

Can you recall the last time you told yourself everything was going to be okay, and it wasn't? You probably went through the day faking it to make it. Today may just be one of those days.

It’s not okay because the world is full of problems. We need you to live on purpose and become a solution.

Getting from "here to there" is something that I think about daily.

At 42 years old, I aspire to retire as the CEO of L.E.A.D. at age 50. From there, I would like to work full-time with the NCAA to increase the number of Black males who are competing academically and athletically as baseball players.

As of today, less than 3 percent of NCAA Division I players are Black. That’s a problem. As a Black man who used baseball to escape poverty, I want to be a part of the solution.

“If you want to reach the nation, start from your corner.” — Big Boi

In order for me to get there, I have to start where I am. I’m passionate about the plight of inner-city Atlanta youth Black males who are living in a racialized America. My passion to empower Black youth males in Atlanta is the fuel for my purpose.

"Atlanta bred, Atlanta cred."

D.L. Moody penned these words in his bible next to the verse Isaiah 6:8. It says, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do and what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.”

Here are my "Great Eight Questions" that I believe can get anybody from here to there:

1. How have you failed yourself?
2. What are you suffering from or seeking?
3. Why won’t you fail?
4. Who are you and what does God want you to do on Earth?
5. What do you need to repeatedly do without thought to accomplish your mission in life?
6. What do you need to know to accomplish your mission in life?
7. What do you need to repeatedly do without thought under stress to accomplish your mission in life?
8. Who do you need to help you accomplish your mission in life?

Do you have the answers?

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How to get an “A” in Leadership

Being educated in the Atlanta Public Schools System (APS), I wanted to become a leader like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Atlanta’s first Black Mayor Maynard Jackson, both APS graduates.

At the time, I believed the title “leader” was a reflection of the position you held indicating others were following you. Fortunately, my definition of a leader has developed. How do you define leadership?

How to get an “A” in Leadership:

AUTHENTIC. Who YOU Are.

Are you authentic?  Are you aware of your current shortcomings and biggest life lessons? How about those who follow you?  “Fake it til you make it” and “Grind til you shine” are two failing mantras that some leaders live by. There is an alternative – Authenticity. Authenticity is the foundation for effective leadership. What is your leadership mantra?  Are you Authentic?

AWARENESS & ATTITUDE (A2). How YOU Think and How YOU Act.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. - Albert Einstein

Are you AWARE of what ails our city and your ATTITUDE toward the problem? Georgia has one non-profit charitable organization for every 361 people. It is ranked in the top 1/3 of most charitable states overall. Georgia’s charitable organizations are generous with both their money and volunteers. So….

• Why, does Atlanta have so many problems with poverty and failed educational outcomes?

• Why haven’t these problems been resolved?

Don’t we have enough leaders? How do we hold leaders accountable to the very needed solutions? 

ADJUSTMENTS. How YOU Respond.

How you respond to a crisis reveals character. Bad news? A bad financial report? Difficulty in your company or with your child?  Do you have the wherewithal to make ADJUSTMENTS for positive outcomes in the face of bad news?  

Content knowledge without the character to act perpetuates crises and is a reflection of ineffective leadership. Conferences and books can educate leaders but crises itself equips us to formulate solutions. 

APTITUDE. How YOU Correct.

Aptitude is the ability to learn and apply knowledge. Leaders must put in action what they are learning at leadership conferences which require getting involved, staying committed and being vested in the outcome. Correction of our problems requires application, not just knowledge or position.

L.E.A.D. Ambassdor Ja'Vien Woods and U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson

ATHLETICISM & ACTION. How YOU Make Things Happen.

Leadership is dynamic. People being led want to win regardless of context.  Athleticism and Action – required elements for success in sports as well as leadership.  Watching Michael Vick play when he was our quarterback for the Falcons was exciting. Why? He made things happen despite not being the most fundamental quarterback in the league.

As a leader in Atlanta, how are you doing? Can you rate yourself on these A’s? What is your formula for making things happen?

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Reflection :: 4th Annual Safe at Home Game

The 4^th Annual Safe at Home Game was played on August 4, 2018 at the Moore-Clendenon Baseball Field on the historic campus of Booker T. Washington High School.  Three specific things immediately come to mind as I reflect on the success of this year’s event:

·         the place,

·         the people, and

·         the point.

The Place – Home at the Historic Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta, GA

The first three years, the Safe at Home Games were played at Georgia Tech’s Russell Chandler Stadium.  This year we brought it home to Booker T. Washington High School.

In September 2014, APIVEO founder, Brad Jubin, accepted my invitation to come out to Washington High School and give a short pre-game talk on leadership to the players at one of our L.E.A.D. Fall Legacy League self-officiated games. 

Brad had his son Christian with him, and after he addressed the players, he and his son stayed to watch the first game despite his apprehension over the location.  Suffice it to say that it is not the same neighborhood that it was when Martin Luther King, Jr. was a student at Washington High School. That said, what Brad and his son, witnessed on the field that day and learned about the people who live in the community became the impetus for the Safe at Home Game.  

Brad and Christian’s visit came just a few weeks after Michael Brown, an unarmed Black man, was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, MO.  Seems like we were all looking for a solution to ease tensions between Black communities and police, because a few months after his visit, Brad contacted Kelli and me to discuss what he had learned that day and asked what we thought about the possibility of a baseball game between inner city kids and cops. We spoke further, and the rest is history.

From a personal perspective, Washington High School is special because of family ties.  My mother, who had me as a teenager, is a graduate of Washington High School, my uncle Bob met my Aunt Margie there, and my nieces graduated from there this past school year.

Officer J.T. Somers and DeAngelo Nowell, Jr.

The People – Atlantans Come Together at the Right Place at the Right Time

According to the 2017 U.S. Census, Atlanta has an estimated population of 5,884,736.  A mere fraction of Atlanta’s population attended the game this year, but they were all the right people; there for the right reason. 

The people who came out were clearly there to support building bridges between the Black community and Atlanta’s police through their common passion for baseball. 

The stands were filled with fans cheering for the cops as well as the Ambassadors.  Even though the Ambassadors came up short for the second consecutive year, everyone agreed that it didn’t matter because we all won, and Atlanta continues to win through the goodwill and brotherhood generated between the players by the Safe at Home Game.

The Point – Leading the Ambassadors into a Sustainable Life of Significance

I maintain that Atlanta will never become a world-class city until hundreds of thousands of Black males are living a sustainable life of significance, which may include careers in public service.  Leading Atlanta’s at-risk young Black men to live such lives is what I do every day.  I am intentional about how I lead these young men and commit to exposing them to experiences that will inspire them and lead to their success.

The Safe at Home Game has become such an event.  It is one that I rely on to inspire our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors into public service.  Through their participation, the Ambassadors get to know some of Atlanta’s hard-working public servants with who they have something in common.

For instance, they have unfettered access to Atlanta’s police officers and are provided with a unique perspective into their lives.  One officer that has become a role model is Assistant Chief of Police, Rodney Bryant.  He is an Atlanta native, educated in the Atlanta Public School system just like the Ambassadors. He attended M. Agnes Jones Elementary School and Sylvan Hills High School.

Elected officials have also become interested in the Safe at Home Game and participate in various ways.  This year Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens presented a proclamation to the players making August Safe at Home Month in Atlanta.  Councilman Dickens is a fifth generation Atlantan and proud product of the Atlanta Public School System where he graduated from Benjamin E Mays High School. He also played baseball.  The Councilman’s interaction is meaningful to the Ambassadors because they are familiar with him, where he comes from and who he has become. They look up to him, admire his achievements, and are inspired.

For L.E.A.D. to be successful, our work must be intentional.  As I look ahead in planning the 5^thAnnual Safe at Home Game, I will keep these three things in mind as foundational to its continued success.  Atlanta's success is counting on it.

L.E.A.D. Ambassadors with Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens

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Humility to me

This was the Facebook post that my wife Kelli made on Monday, May 14, 2018. To my surprise, nobody responded negatively.

"When Black people are told to be humble, it means we have to surrender our confidence and dignity. It is an age-old strategy that is akin to using Christianity as a tool to justify American slavery.

It’s what got Emmett Till murdered and our ancestors lynched – the notion that we would have the nerve to express our confidence and dignity.

There is a common thread between our explicitly tragic history and the calls we hear today to be humble: they are all based on acts of suppression that, cumulatively, amount to a culture of oppression. They all originate from a deficient and sometimes unconscious belief in a hierarchy of sorts, one in which we are all somehow supposed to “know our place.”

If I have been diligent in my craft and have experienced success as a result of it- I have earned the right to be confident. #LettinMyLightShine #ClaimingMyGreatness #NotHidingItUnderABushel #iSeeWhatYouTryinToDo

Kelli Stewart

There are so many definitions for the word “humble”. There are those who consider being humble a selective requirement. They believe certain people should be humble while others, including themselves, are exempt from it, as if they are the umpire, responsible for judging when a particular individual or the movement they represent is either “safe” or “out” (as in “unsafe”).

According to Rick Warren, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

I really like that definition.

As a child and even up until age 40, I defined humility as hiding my blessings and not taking credit for positive things that I’ve done so that I wouldn’t make others feel “unsafe”.

At age 40, I graduated from Leadership Atlanta’s 2015 cohort class. The mission of Leadership Atlanta is to build a better community for everyone in the Atlanta region through education about the key issues facing the region and inspiring members and others to take on and exercise real leadership committed to serving the common good.

Leadership Atlanta was a convicting experience that enabled me to get better connected with myself, which allowed me to collaborate with others to create change.

At age 40, I gave myself permission to embrace my blessings from God that allow me to bless others on earth. I also stopped the deflection of credit when I accomplished things. Ultimately, I realized that I serve as a conduit to receive blessings from God that I can then give to others.

For me, there are few things worse than an obscure Black man. As a child, I assumed that everything that was done right was done by a White man.

As children, we all form our sense of self-worth based on the circumstances and messages thrust upon us, but that doesn’t mean they are true. Our journey is one of navigating reality and overcoming untruths - of recognizing what is false in the world around us and what is true in ourselves.

Along that journey, there is balance and unity that comes with humility – a recognition that we may be much better than we thought we were as a child, but we are still imperfect individuals in an imperfect world.

As an imperfect man of God, I’m on assignment every day. We all have a purpose for our life and mine is to be significant by serving millions and bringing them into a relationship with Christ starting with my wife, Kelli, and our daughters Mackenzi and Mackenna.

Mackenna and Mackenzi Stewart

I’m 42 years of age and here’s a list of 42 things that I want to do in my future.

Ending racism in my lifetime is number 1 on my list.

Why is ending Racism #1? Because when I call on my own humility, what I want is about so much more than what I want. Ending racism is a legacy that will generate a positive impact that will flow powerfully through time and space, to future generations and to all people (not just black people). It will help us “know our place” relative to God rather than relative to each other.

This is not about me thinking less about myself, it is about me thinking of myself less.

I’m a devoted husband and father, a consequential leader, a coach, and a Best Selling author among many blessings. I have been diligent in my craft and have experienced success as a result of it- I have earned the right to be confident.

- How does Kelli’s Facebook post make you feel?
- How do you define humility?
- What emotions do you feel in the presence of a confident Black man?

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Speed of trust

Not too long ago, a White man asked me what I was mad about. Honestly, it was one of the best things that has happened to me over the last five years. The question forced me to pause. It forced me to think. The question showed he was paying attention to me. The answer was important to him. 

The feeling of acknowledgement is important to some people. It shows they are not being ignored or lack value.

Even the Bible says it’s alright to be angry, but not to sin:

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” — ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:26-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As a Black man, I oftentimes get mad because I don't feel I get the same treatment than my White male counterparts, especially when I’m trying to make things happen in Atlanta.

Along with my wife, Kelli, I lead two businesses. Our for-profit business, Diamond Directors, provides the blueprint of success for diamond sports athletes, while our non-profit organization, L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct), partners with Atlanta Public Schools to empower an at-risk generation to lead and transform their city of Atlanta.

In my dealings with other people, I seek three things: benefit of the doubt, respect and trust.

No. 1 — Benefit of the doubt

The Urban Dictionary defines "benefit of the doubt" as defaulting to the belief that your intentions are honest, and not assume malice when there is uncertainty or doubt surrounding the circumstances.

We all stereotype each other. I believe that it’s impossible to stop and is healthy to do.

It scares people at times, but early on in conversations with people, I share the stereotypes that I have of them so that they can debunk them immediately. This helps us connect, which leads to respect.

While I’m not a mind reader, my spiritual gift is discernment. I can feel when people doubt me. If you don’t have the courage to tell me the stereotype you have of me, give me the benefit of the doubt so that I can earn your respect.

No. 2 — Respect

Respect is the ability to treat people in a positive manner—a way that acknowledges them for who they are and/or what they are doing.

An important part of respect is simply acknowledging the other person in a positive manner. You don’t have to like me when you first meet me, but you should respect me until I’ve given you a reason not to.

No. 3 — Trust

Trust is the confident expectation of something; hope.

Things getting done move at the speed of trust. For some, trust takes time, which usually translates into a lot of time. For me, trust moves at the speed of your willingness and ability to make and keep promises.

Making and keeping promises means that I deem you as important. It means I will trust you.

Finding out what you deem important is about asking what's valuable to you.

As a Black leader in Atlanta, I want the benefit of the doubt, respect and trust, in that order. Having all three enables me to deliver on promises that I make to hundreds of young Black men every year.

Under my leadership and the support of our L.E.A.D. staff and executive board of directors, our L.E.A.D. Impact Stats are as follows:

• 100 percent of our Ambassadors graduate from high school
• 95 percent attend college
• 5 percent enroll in the military
• 92 percent attend college with scholarship opportunities
• 15 percent graduate from college

These are numbers that we are proud to share. They represent the hallmarks of our success and represent the foundation for efforts to help build the next generation of Black leaders.

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The Silver Bullet – People want change but aren’t willing to change

To me, “There’s no Silver Bullet” is code for ...

- I understand the problem but I don’t know how to solve it
- I don’t understand the problem and I don’t care to solve it
- I don’t care a.k.a. it’s complicated and I don’t do complicated

My temperature rises when I’m in the room with “leaders” and “problem solvers” and we get to the point when somebody says, “there’s no Silver Bullet”. What are they really saying?

When I hear that, I immediately think of three things.

1. The person saying it understands the problem but doesn’t know how to solve it.

2. They don’t understand the problem and don’t care to solve it.

3. They simply don’t care to solve the problem.

What is impeding the solution?

What if it is true that all problems are created by people and all problems start out simplistically.

Simplistic statements are typically overstated, shallow and trite. They serve the speaker and can foster avoidance and lack of responsibility. Statements such as, “hard work beats talent when talent works hard”. When put to the test, fails 50% of the time. Why? One reason it is doesn’t account for when we work hard at the wrong thing.

When solutions are simple, things get done. However, don’t confuse “simple” with “easy”. The real Silver Bullet is the “simple thing”. When solutions become simple, folks are now responsible for taking action which exposes their will. Folks that don’t really want to do the work to create change, strive for and hope to maintain convolution.

I live by six Core Values that help me not succumb to the trite statement, “hard work beats talent when talent works hard”.

The 6-Core Values are …

1. Excellence is setting and meeting expectations.

2. Humility is thinking of others more than yourself without thinking less of yourself.

3. Integrity is doing the right thing even when you can do the wrong thing.

4. Loyalty is doing the right thing even when it is unpopular.

5. Stewardship is protection of values, beliefs and people.

6. And finally, teamwork, being your best within a group of people that are being their best for a specific purpose.

The airplane was a Silver Bullet for transportation. The internet, the Silver Bullet for information. How about the telephone? A Silver Bullet for communication. What problems do you see today? Acknowledge the answer may be simple and require us to deal with our will to act.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct) and we use baseball as a vehicle to empower an at-risk generation to lead and transform their city of Atlanta. We empower our Ambassadors to fight against crime, racism and poverty.

The nay-sayers and cynics respond to this by saying that there is no bullet for fighting crime, racism and poverty and my response is simply, L.E.A.D.

Photo by Jason Getz

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Will You Get in the Boat?

I’m the husband of Kelli, and the father of two beautiful girls, Mackenzi and Mackenna. I am a baseball coach, author, speaker, and leader. And, I’m the CEO of L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct) an organization dedicated to empower an at-risk generation of young, black men to lead and transform their city of Atlanta.

I was also born into poverty.

Growing up on the northwest side of Atlanta wasn’t a walk in the park. My home was in zip code 30318 where the youths, along with those in zip codes 30310 and 30315, grow up to make up 80 percent of Georgia’s prison system.

My parents were loving, but neither had a college education so they struggled to make ends meet. This meant that my siblings and I grew up on Medicaid, WIC, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and food stamps.

If you lived in my zip code, and you wanted to get free from the shackles of racism, poverty, and crime, chances were slim that you would. In fact, today in Atlanta according to the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce, only 4 percent of black children ever do.

Therefore, my escape from the life that had been handed down to me was a miracle, and it’s a miracle that many young black men in Atlanta pray for every day.

And that’s why I am passionate about empowering youths to become politicians, pastors, police officers, and other leaders to be crowns for the city of Atlanta.

I want to empower the other 96 percent to escape, so that not only their lives will be changed, but the lives of the generations after them will be changed too. Their children and children’s children won’t know what it’s like to go to bed hungry, battle poverty, and fear for their lives. Instead they can become leaders and miracle-makers for Georgia.

When LEAD wins, Atlanta and the world wins.

Just Imagine

Imagine there is a young black man sitting in a classroom in Atlanta’s inner-city. If given the chance he could discover the cure for cancer, create symphonies, rescue orphans, or share the gospel with millions. Or, he could become a movement maker like Martin

Luther King, Jr. But without the ability to get free from the grips of poverty, racism, and crime, he will never know what gifts he could bring to the world—and what gifts he could bring into your world.

But consider this, there isn’t just one young black man sitting in a classroom or walking the streets who can’t escape the hand that has been given him. There are thousands. And that’s thousands of lives in the generations after them that won’t be changed if their lives aren’t changed.

The Facts

In addition to the stats I already shared, here’s what you need to know about the plight of inner city Atlanta black males . . .

• Atlanta Public Schools educates over 51,927 students grades K-12 with 26,398 being males.
• 33.5% of black males either will not graduate on time or at all.
• Georgia ranks in the top five in incarceration in America while America ranks number one in the world.

By the tens of thousands, black males are trapped in generational poverty because of slavery which was followed by racism that has been supported by government policy before they were ever born.

If this was your story, how could you get free if no one helped you?

Everyone Has a Calling. Anyone Can Change the World.

No one is ever born without a calling. No matter your race or the place of your birth, your Creator has guaranteed that you have been created on purpose for a purpose. Through our 6-year program, Pathway 2 Empowerment—which inspires young men to follow in the footsteps of great leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Maynard Jackson, and Herman Russell—our LEAD Ambassadors are asked four questions to help them discover why they have been created and how they can help change Atlanta—and the world.

• What do you worry about?
• What do you cry about?
• What do you dream about?
• What world problem do you want to solve?

Everyone can learn more about what they have been created to do and how they have been designed to change the world through these questions.

In Georgia, there can only be one Governor and two U.S. Senators. In Atlanta, there can only be one Superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools. There can only be on Mayor of Atlanta and one Police Chief. These are just a few positions that LEAD is preparing our Ambassadors to serve for the benefit of all Atlantans.

Current notable black Atlanta Public School System (APS) alums that are making a significant difference in Atlanta and the world include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Ceasar Mitchell and Andre Dickens.

Change is possible.

6 Core Values

The LEAD Pathway 2 Empowerment program is driven by 6 core values:

1. Excellence—Setting and meeting expectations.
2. Humility—Thinking of others more than yourself without thinking less of yourself.
3. Integrity—Doing the right thing even when you could do the wrong thing.
4. Loyalty—Doing the right thing even when it is unpopular.
5. Stewardship—Protecting values, beliefs and people.
6. Teamwork—Being your best within a group of people that are being their best for a specific purpose

Will you get in the boat, too?

Imagine a crocodile-infested river where zebras are trying to cross the river to get food. As the zebras enter the water, some will make it across without coming into contact with a crocodile; some will break free but with wounds that will never heal—and others will die.

The zebras represent the black boys in the inner-city of Atlanta. The crocodiles represent the three evils that are designed to destroy them: racism, poverty and crime.

I’m not a spectator on the sideline of this struggle.

I am in the river, in the boat, waiting to rescue any young

man that will grab hold of the baseball bat I extend to them.

If they choose to grab hold of my bat, I will pull them into my boat and take them across the river safely. I have survived this very same struggle, and as a survivor, it is my duty, my burden, and my honor to provide safe passage for them.

One of the ways the LEAD team is working to transform the lives of young black men is through our new vision, Mission 100.

Will you get in the boat with me?

Through the Mission 100 program, LEAD isn’t just interested in making a temporary difference in the lives of black males in Atlanta’s inner city. We want to transform their lives so they can lead Atlanta to lead the world.

To make this vision a reality, LEAD’s goal is to engage at 100 more Ambassadors in Atlanta Public High Schools by 2020. These Ambassadors are at risk, 9th-12th grade black males in Atlanta’s public-school system. LEAD’s Pathway 2 Empowerment program has already provided hundreds of Ambassadors with

unprecedented access to opportunities in athletics, academics, civic engagement, and commerce.

Gensen Scott, former Ambassador, now a LEAD donor says, “L.E.A.D. was important to me [as a kid] because it gave me a different outlook on what I could be in life. I gave me specific tools to help me succeed in life and become the best at whatever I would pursue.”

Denzel Campbell, also former LEAD Ambassador says, “LEAD was a positive outlet for me where I could join my brothers through good and bad times. It was a safe haven for creative ideas around baseball, inner city challenges, and how we can overcome together using positive strategies and networking. Together we had a voice to tell our stories to empower others. Some of my best friends come from this organization, and the inspiration I get from LEAD fuels my internal motivation even to this day.”

To partner with us to transform lives and change Atlanta and the world, please consider giving to support our work through Mission 100.

To donate to Mission 100, join forces with LEAD, and to help 100 Ambassadors in Atlanta Public Schools, contact Kelli Stewart at kelli.stewart@lead2legacy.org. You can also make a general donation to LEAD for any amount by clicking this link.

If you cannot financially give, please pray. We are grateful for your support.

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42 Wants

I don't want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. - Emma Watson

Today is April 10th, 2018 and it's my 42nd birthday celebration. There are 42 things that I want for my future that will benefit hundreds of thousands of others and even millions. 

I usually have to pay a price for being clear about what I want. Some call me arrogant. Others will pray that I remain focused.

I want ...

1. I want racism to end in my life time.

2. I want Kelli and I to live happily married until the Lord calls us home.

3. I want my daughters to be happily married to men that will protect and provide for them until the Lord calls them home.

4. I want L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct) to serve youth internationally by 2027 starting with the continent of Africa.

5. I want Kelli and I to establish a family foundation by 2027 supporting sports organizations that develop leaders.

6. I want to lead LEAD to build a Center For Youth in Bankhead, NW Atlanta housing 100 LEAD Ambassadors by 2022.

7. I want to write my second book by 2019.

8. I want my for profit business Diamond Directors to certify at least 100 professional baseball coaches in North America by 2020.

9. I want to visit the Continent of Africa by age 50.

10. I want to mentor a LEAD Ambassdor to become the Mayor of Atlanta, Governor of Georgia and U.S. Senator by my age of 60.

11. I want LEAD to have a corporate partnership with Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Chick-fil-A and Delta Airlines - four of my favorite companies.

12. I want to be on the cover of Time Magazine recognized as the Best Coach in America allowing me to use my influence to serve millions while bringing them in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

13. I want the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia Bulldogs football team to win a championship by 2020.

14. I want to help Atlanta Public Schools increase the high school graduation rate of Black males.

15. I want to understand politics so that I can lead millions of underserved people in America.

16. I want to understand the Bible proficiently so that I can lead millions of people in the world into an everlasting relationship with God in the name of Jesus.

17. Patience is to wait without anger and I want to be patient with youth that are simple-minded like I was at their age.

18. I want to be empathic towards adults that are knowingly foolish.

19. I want to stand before God and hear job well done.

20. I want to read books for comprehension and be intentional to use what I’ve learned to empower others.

21. I want to be loving, even to those that I don’t believe are lovable.

LEAD Center For Youth rendering

22. I want millions of Black men in America to receive the benefit of the doubt in our racist country allowing us to quickly earn the respect of people that don’t trust us because of the color of our skin.

23. I want to become a great listener.

24. I want to know exactly who I was born to become and have the courage it be it on purpose.

25. I want to learn how to unplug and just chill with my family when it’s time to chill.

26. I want to be less quick-tempered.

27. I want to renovate abandoned buildings in Atlanta to house up to 200 homeless adults short-term while preparing them to live sustainable lives.

28. I want to say yes to assignments and no to invitations.

29. I want to show love to all my haters with my actions.

30. I want to be meek and humble but not to a fault.

31. I want there to be a sequel to Black Panther before 2019.

32. There are people on earth that You Lord, have assigned to warn, inspire and empower me and I want to hear them.

33. I want to continue to worship and praise the Lord in my times of good and bad.

34. I want to be something to explore.

35. I want at least 1,000 Black male graduates of college, military and/or other accredited higher education institutions that are mentees of mine to be employed with the Atlanta Braves, Delta, UPS, Georgia's Own Credit Union, and Coke by 2026.

36. I want to increase the number of Black student-athletes competing in baseball at the NCAA Division I level to from 2.9% in 2016 to 40% by 2036.

37. I want to increase the number of Blacks competing in the Majors from less than 10% in 2016 to 40% by 2036.

38. I want at least 40% of Atlanta Braves season tickets holders to be Black by 2036.

39. I want the LEAD Ambassadors to sell over 100,000 of their books within the first month of it being published, this summer 2018.

40. I want to financially empower thousands of youth that are being educated in rural counties of Georgia.

41. I want to be worth billions so that I can give away billions.

42. I want to draw closer to God in my suffering and be comfortable being uncomfortable for His name sake.

Kelli and C.J. Stewart

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Mentoring – Why do we do it? How do we do it? Are we effective?

Leadership naturally implies mentoring or growing those up who seek us out as mentors and follow. Evaluating if mentoring is right for us or if we are right to mentor, requires an intentional approach and commitment. If we have committed to being a mentor or evaluating this relationship, we should be able to answer three questions succinctly.

Why do we mentor?

I mentor because I am called to transform the lives of black youth in Atlanta. Mentoring allows me to influence young men, train them to excel beyond even their own expectations and expand their vision to lead Atlanta. Race plays a critical role in this conversation.

Why do you mentor? Some feel a responsibility to give back, others may want to inspire change or make a difference. In order for us to be effective mentors, we must understand why we want to mentor because mentees will eventually figure it out, even if we haven’t. Mentees may not connect quickly with us so we also need to understand why and why it may take so long to invoke lasting change.

L.E.A.D.'s Human Ambassador Project

How do we effectively mentor?

Authenticity & Transparency - People won’t believe your success until they believe your struggle. Mentees consciously and subconsciously fear that mentors will not be authentic, aka FAKE. Without authenticity, mentoring relationships become one-sided with mentors dictating directions and “shoulds” which equals guilt. Mentoring relationships are a two-way street. My mentees must be committed to helping me with my shortcomings otherwise we can’t have the relationship. If I don’t share my shortcomings, I cheat them from this opportunity.

Boldness – Are you inspiring? Confident is good. Arrogance is bad. The fine line separating the two is humility, one I often cross. Mentees often lack direction in life or knowledge of the path to reach the destination, hence the reason they follow us. We’ve been given permission to lead so if we expect boldness from them, we must demonstrate it as well.

Consistency – How do we remain influential while not present? As a follower of Christ, I believe that planting seeds of greatness must be watered by the Holy Spirit in my absence. I can influence mentees interceeding through the power of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. My mentoring relationship include an aspect of accountability in my absence that works to keep my mentees honest.

One of my favorite authors is Malcolm Gladwell and in his book Outliers, he teachers that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to develop a skill. I believe it to be true.

Helping mentees become the best version of themselves requires deliberate practice within a set of guidelines. Guidelines include honest conversations about available time and my priorities and where they fit into those priorities. While mentees will not get all of my time, they can, by text message, email, sharing of books, blogs and daily prayer, be mentored, follow and learn.

Guardrails established early enable a reliable framework for consistent transformation. These frameworks naturally forecast an end date for the formal part of the relationship. When the purpose of the relationship is clear, frameworks are easier to discuss. Mentoring relationship should never end informally so being clear increases credibility.

Sustainability - Will I (the mentee) be inspired beyond our formal relationship? Sustainability requires strength. I thrive when I’m spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally and physically strong and I want to teach my mentees how to fill and keep these five buckets full forever. Since mentoring relationships have a beginning and ending, how will I be inspired and inspire those beyond the framework of the formal mentor relationsihp? By modeling and sharing what personally works for me.

I strengthen myself by growing each aspect required in sustainability: Spiritually – through prayer and my relationship with Jesus Christ; Emotionally by my wife and daughters who inspire and empower me by revealing my positive and negative blindspots; Mentally - by reading which I didn’t like as a child. I felt it was taboo for Black boys to be educated. It was considered to be “acting White” by many of my peers. Now I read almost two books per month because education is learning what needs to be learned to do what needs to be done; Relationally - by spending time with likeminded friends. I’m an extrovert and enjoy meeting new people benefitting most from people that want to become a better version of themselves. I feed off of these folks even if they are homeless, addicted to drugs or the CEO of a Fortune 100 company; Physically - by working out for at least 30 minutes four days per week, even if I don’t want to, feeling good feels good and allows us to do good.

How are you sustaining yourself? What is your plan for sustainability? It this worth sharing with your mentees? You can’t share what you don’t know…

Are we being an effective mentor?

In the end, are we fulfilling our mission as mentors? How are we measuring our effectiveness? We can only do that if we define our role. Mentors need to think twice about starting relationships with mentees if they don’t know how to mentor. Education precedes empowerment and leads effectiveness. Think carefully about committing to a mentoring relationship. What role will you play? What is your commitment? How will you define success for yourself, your mentee and are those the same? I measure my effectiveness by my mentees being able to communicate their life purpose in 30 words or less. Not by memory, by instinct.

If you can answer 50% of these questions, you are ready to get started. Be mentored, finish answering the other 50% and get involved. You’re needed.

Pictured with my mentee Javier Mayora of El Salvador

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