Thank you for joining L.E.A.D.'s official social networking site. If you have not had a chance, please visit our organization's main website at www.lead2legacy.org to learn more about our program. L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct) was founded by Atlanta native and former Chicago Cubs outfielder, C.J. Stewart. Understanding the plight of the inner city player as it relates to playing baseball at the college level and avoiding the usualy pitfalls of drugs, gangs and teenage fatherhood, Stewart started L.E.A.D. to make collegiate baseball opportunities accesible and affordable to inner city youth and to provide a positive safety net of support for players and their families. "The reason why there is a less than 6% representation of blacks at the NCAA level is because inner city players (who are predominately black) can't afford to access the training, development, exposure and consulting resources necessary to showcase their skills to college programs. At this point in time, it has nothing to do with racism. Danny Hall (Georgia Tech) would sign a green martian if he could demonstrate that he could make meaningful contributions to the program. The barriers are access and affordability- no more, no less." - C.J. Stewart, Founder L.E.A.D., Inc.

In a patnership with Atlanta Public Schools that will bring middle school baseball to four pilot schools- B.E.S.T. Academy, Sylvan Hills, Parks, and Kenneday Middle Schools- L.E.A.D. and FCA are geared up to start the inaugural season this Spring. Thank you to all of the Ambassadors for being instructors at the free clinics and to the parents for handling registration and helping out wherever needed. Stay tuned for more information on this historical program.

L.E.A.D., in partnership with the Brothers of Better Business, teamed up to meet the needs of Atlanta families this holiday season. Through our Diamond Dollar Drive, L.E.A.D. players raised money to provide items for the Genesis Shelter for Women and Infants (picture below), food and blankets for the Safe House Chili Outreach event (11/21/09) and to provide Thanksgiving meals to 15 deserving families from Parks Middle and Gideon Elementary Schools. We are truly living out L.E.A.D.'s motton of Serving The Game & World!