Photo credit to: iSmooth
On Saturday, August 16th, the 11th Annual Safe at Home Game will take place-gates open at 10 a.m. and the first pitch is at 11 a.m. This isn’t just another baseball game. It’s a movement. A message. A moment of truth, unity, and transformation that started 11 years ago in the wake of tragedy and continues to redefine community.
The Origin of the Safe at Home Game
In 2014, the world was shaken by the killing of Mike Brown, an unarmed African-American teenager, by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The ripple effect reached far beyond Ferguson. It reached Atlanta. It reached us.
That fall, Brad Jubin-a friend and founder of APIVEO (Always Play IV Each Other)-visited our LEAD Ambassadors. He watched our Fall Legacy League, where every inter-squad game was self-officiated by our Ambassadors. No umpires. Just young Black boys leading, managing, and playing with discipline, accountability, and mutual respect. Brad was deeply moved.
He said, “The world needs to see this. Not all Black boys hate law enforcement. And not all law enforcement hate Black boys.”
At the same time, my wife Kelli-CEO of the LEAD Center For Youth-was finalizing our organization’s new strategic plan. The title? Safe at Home.
And so, the Safe at Home Game was born.
What started as a single act of hope has now become an annual Atlanta tradition-an intergenerational call to action disguised as a baseball game.
What It Means to Be “Safe”
To be safe is to be seen, valued, and protected. It’s more than the absence of harm-it’s the presence of peace, purpose, and potential. Here are three things that let someone know they’re safe:
- Consistency – Knowing that the people and systems around you will show up and act with integrity.
Why it matters: Trust can’t exist without consistency.
How to build it when it’s missing: Create small routines that bring structure and dependability-then expand that trust outward. - Belonging – Feeling like you are wanted, included, and important.
Why it matters: Belonging shields against isolation, which often leads to violence, self-doubt, or disengagement.
How to build it when it’s missing: Surround yourself with people and places that celebrate-not just tolerate-who you are. - Voice – Having the ability to speak, be heard, and influence your environment.
Why it matters: Safety is stolen when people are silenced.
How to build it when it’s missing: Practice speaking your truth in safe spaces, and advocate for others when their voices shake.
From Players to Protectors
Today, we proudly celebrate that two of our LEAD Ambassador alums are now full-time law enforcement officers. These young men once self-officiated games as teens. Now, they serve and protect communities with the same discipline, integrity, and empathy they developed on the field.
And as the Chief Visionary Officer of LEAD Center For Youth, I prophesy this: In the years to come, many more of our Ambassadors-young men and women-will go on to careers in law enforcement, not just in Atlanta but around the world. They’ll do it because they were shaped by a culture of accountability, love, and leadership. A culture where being safe at home was more than a phrase-it was a promise.
Come Be Part of the Tradition
Join us on August 16th for the 11th Safe at Home Game. It’s more than baseball. It’s more than symbolism. It’s Atlanta history in motion.
Bring a friend. Spread the word. Be a witness.
Because when Black boys feel safe at home, the whole world becomes a better place.
