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 for
other purposes.
WHEREAS, founded in 2007 by Atlanta native and former Chicago Clubs outfielder C.J.
Stewart and his wife, Kelli, the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct (L.E.A.D) Center for Youth
aims to empower Atlanta's Black youth through the methodology of sports-based youth
development; and
WHEREAS, L.E.A.D. helps participants build sustainable, meaningful lives and break
inter-generational cycles of poverty and trauma by using sports to foster leadership, civic
engagement, and community service; and
WHEREAS, through direct service programming, L.E.A.D. uses baseball for boys and tennis
for girls to equip students in Atlanta Public Schools and metro Atlanta with the confidence
and skills needed to overcome crime, poverty, and racism; and
WHEREAS, L.E.A.D. bridges a critical gap for vulnerable families in inner-city Atlanta by
offering high quality sports-based youth development programs that are paid for by the
participants' commitment to their grades, attendance, behavior, and community service, thus
removing the barrier of monetary cost; and
WHEREAS, through exceptional coaching and mentoring, L.E.A.D. youth develop
social-emotional learning and executive functioning skills that prepare them for success
athletically, academically, socially, and career wise, with 97 percent of participants showing
improvement in at least three social-emotional learning capacities by the end of one annual
programming cycle; and
WHEREAS, in the near future, L.E.A.D. plans to create a $12 million state-of-the-art
sports-based youth development complex in the heart of the Bankhead community, which
will enable L.E.A.D. to empower more than 1,000 young people annually; and
WHEREAS, L.E.A.D's dedication to empowering youth and connecting communities
strengthens both Atlanta and Georgia, making it abundantly fitting and proper to recognize
the accomplishments of this extraordinary organization.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize and commend the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth for its
valuable contributions on behalf of the youth of this state as well as extend best wishes for
its continued growth, development, and success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Launch,
Expose, Advise, Direct Center for Youth.