Who Is C.J. Stewart Really? | Deep Dive Interview

3% is a number that should stop you cold. C.J. Stewart tells us you’ve got roughly a 3% chance of making it to pro sports and, in Atlanta, a similar shot at escaping poverty if you’re born into it. C.J. knows both worlds. He’s a former Chicago Cubs outfielder, and he’s now the chief visionary officer and co-founder of the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth, a sports-based youth development non-profit built to help marginalised youth build real paths into adulthood.

The conversation gets personal and practical: the difference between guilt and conviction, why mentorship is the floor, not the ceiling, and why sponsorship and advocacy are what move young people from potential to power. C.J. also shares a vision for a more connected Atlanta, including programs that bring together kids from Bankhead and Buckhead, and a definition of civic engagement that goes beyond voting into real, consequential living.

If you care about youth development, equity in sport, or building stronger communities, listen through and then share this with someone who mentors, coaches, or hires. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s one relationship that changed your trajectory?

Until the day of release, feel free to visit and enjoy the collection stories using the following links:

Website: https://leadcenterforyouth.org/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/iamcjstewart

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cj.stewart.773

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjstewartatl/

https://youtu.be/v8rEuxx1kg4 (Video podcast)

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