SR147: SR147 Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth; recognize

25 LC 129 0022 Senate Resolution 147 By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Orrock of the 36th, Brass of the 6th, Echols of the 49th, Rhett of the 33rd and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, founded in 2007 by Atlanta native and former Chicago C lubs outfielder C.J.3 Stewart and his wife, Kelli, the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct (L.E.A.D) Center for Youth4 aims to empower Atlanta's Black youth through the methodology o f sports-based youth5 development; and6 WHEREAS, L.E.A.D. helps participants build sustainable, meaning ful lives and break7 inter-generational cycles of poverty and trauma by using sports to foster leadership, civic8 engagement, and community service; and9 WHEREAS, through direct service programming, L.E.A.D. uses baseball for boys and tennis10 for girls to equip students in Atlanta Public Schools and metro Atlanta with the confidence11 and skills needed to overcome crime, poverty, and racism; and12 WHEREAS, L.E.A.D. bridges a critical gap for vulnerable families in inner-city Atlanta by13 offering high quality sports-based youth development programs t hat are paid for by the14 S. R. 147 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0022 participants' commitment to their grades, attendance, behavior, and community service, thus15 removing the barrier of monetary cost; and16 WHEREAS, through exceptional coaching and mentoring, L.E.A.D. y outh develop17 social-emotional learning and executive functioning skills that prepare them for success18 athletically, academically, socially, and career wise, with 97 percent of participants showing19 improvement in at least three social-emotional learning capacities by the end of one annual20 programming cycle; and21 WHEREAS, in the near future, L.E.A.D. plans to create a $12 mil lion state-of-the-art22 sports-based youth development complex in the heart of the Bank head community, which23 will enable L.E.A.D. to empower more than 1,000 young people annually; and24 WHEREAS, L.E.A.D's dedication to empowering youth and connectin g communities25 strengthens both Atlanta and Georgia, making it abundantly fitting and proper to recognize26 the accomplishments of this extraordinary organization. 27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body28 recognize and commend the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth for its29 valuable contributions on behalf of the youth of this state as well as extend best wishes for30 its continued growth, development, and success.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed32 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the Launch,33 Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth.34 S. R. 147 - 2 -