SR 147: Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth; recognize

This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate honoring the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth, an Atlanta nonprofit founded in 2007 that uses baseball for boys and tennis for girls to mentor young people in Atlanta Public Schools and the surrounding metro area. The resolution describes the organization's mission, its methods, and its results, including a claim that 97 percent of participants improve in social-emotional skills within a year, and notes plans for a $12 million youth complex in the Bankhead community. The Senate resolves to recognize and commend the organization for its contributions to Georgia's youth and wishes it continued success. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the organization. The resolution does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any requirements; it is a formal statement of praise.

• Formally recognizes and commends the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth for its work with Atlanta youth through sports-based mentoring programs.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and deliver a copy of the resolution to the organization.
• Does not create any new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic honor with no binding legal effect.

The resolution directly names and honors the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth, its founders C.J. Stewart and Kelli Stewart, and the Atlanta-area youth and families the organization serves through its sports-based mentoring programs.

The resolution carries no legal or financial effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is limited to giving the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth formal public recognition from the Georgia Senate, which can be used to highlight the organization's community work and support its visibility or fundraising efforts.

• The resolution's whereas clauses describe L.E.A.D.'s founding in 2007, its mission to empower Atlanta's Black youth, and its use of baseball and tennis programming.
• It cites a statistic that 97 percent of participants improve in at least three social-emotional learning capacities within one programming cycle.
• It notes L.E.A.D.'s plan to build a $12 million sports-based youth development complex in the Bankhead community to serve over 1,000 youth annually.
• The resolving clause commends the organization and wishes it continued growth and success.
• A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the organization.

1. 2025-02-11Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-02-10Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)Primary sponsor
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)

• youth programs
• Atlanta community organizations
• sports mentoring
• legislative recognition