The Start of L.E.A.D.

Growing up without material possessions is one thing, but growing up without dreams is unacceptable. When L.E.A.D.’s founder, CJ Stewart was a young man growing up in public housing, baseball was his life. “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a love for the game. While I didn’t know how I would make it, watching those games and seeing my favorite players like Eric Davis and Ken Griffey Sr., gave me the hope and real belief that I could actually play professional ball some day.” While these limited exposures provided a seed for a young CJ to nurture over the years, there were not many other reasons to dream big. “What many people don’t understand is that life in the inner city gives you a constant message that it’s not practical to have dreams. We learn early that dreams don’t keep families fed and they don’t keep the lights on. In addition to that message is your day to day reality. There is no disposable income to cover things like bats, balls, cleats, gloves, private instruction and all of the other necessities a future professional player would need.” It is because of that reality that CJ touts his access to images of great players from communities similar to his own as being key to his eventual road to Major League Baseball as a player for the Chicago Cubs. “When I looked at the Eric Davis’ and the Griffey’s, I felt like I could see the possibility of a successful journey, even when the actual road was hidden.”

At that time, CJ was unaware that African Americans in professional baseball made up almost a third of the total population of players. Since then, that number has dropped to less than 10% with no real outlook for increasing. “Many people attempt to make this about contracts and players complaining about ‘change’ but my own story forces me and the supporters of L.E.A.D. to see the deeper implications. For our kids, images are the only clue that many will ever have that a different life is possible.” Of course CJ’s journey to the big leagues was peppered with more than images; he also enjoyed caring and informed coaching from individuals like Thomas “T.J.” Wilson. Coach Wilson provided CJ with the necessary equipment, advice, exposure to expensive travel teams (via scholarships unknown by the Stewart family) and most importantly, access to private instruction from a professional player. “Mr. Wilson wasn’t rich, but he understood baseball and he recognized my “raw” talent and saw potential; to him, it would have been a crime not to find some way to help me live out my dream, by playing America’s game.”

As CJ’s career with the Cubs faded into the background of his life, he and his lovely wife, Kelli Stewart, looked for ways to establish a new legacy for their two small daughters by making a difference in the lives of young people. Thankfully, they didn’t have to look farther than CJ’s own journey. “As amazing as my story is, there’s a definite pattern that if picked apart and made formal, could be used today to help young men from similar backgrounds.” It was this engaged, philanthropic spirit that resulted in the start of L.E.A.D.. It is my goal to ensure that young people can unapologetically dream of not only playing college baseball and professional baseball, but also have long careers as baseball executives and even own a team.” Through L.E.A.D., the dreams of urban youth have an opportunity to become reality.