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

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.