We all need help in dealing with troubles and problems that we encounter as we try to better our lives. Building and maintaining mutually supportive relationships is essential if you are to successfully pursue a better life.

- Stedman Graham

Stedman Graham has shown a lifelong commitment to youth and community. In 1985, Graham founded AAD Education, Health and Sports (formerly, Athletes Against Drugs), a non-profit organization with over 500 professional athletes and other civic leaders committed to developing leadership in underserved youth. AAD serves over 15,000 students and has awarded $1.5 million in scholarships.

Graham serves on several boards, including the international board of Junior Achievement (JA) and the 7-Eleven Education Is Freedom Foundation, and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. He is also actively involved in leadership efforts and programs in South Africa and is Founder of Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro and Concerned Citizens of Lake Waccamaw, NC.

Additional community program partnerships include: 7-Eleven’s Education Is Freedom Foundation Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy Carlsbad Unified School District, San Diego County, CA Coker College/Darlington County Schools, Hartsville, SC Concerned Citizens of Lake Waccamaw, NC Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, NJ Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) Goodwill Industries North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs Pala Band of Mission Indians Houston Independent School District Tiger Woods Learning Center SGA South Africa Project Utah Jazz U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps Wells Fargo

AAD Education, Health & Sports (AAD)

AAD Education, Health and Sports is a non-for-profit organization founded in 1985 by Stedman Graham, bestselling author, educator and chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates. For 20 years, AAD’s vision has been to help youth develop life skills that will improve their lives by partnering with professional athletes, corporate and community leaders to educate youth to make healthy life decisions by focusing on building healthy bodies, strong minds and live drug-free. Since inception, over 15,000 teens and 500 professional athletes have participated and over $1.5 million in scholarships has been awarded to deserving student athletes. AAD works extensively with youth in elementary and high schools, with such programs as youth sports; role model speakers; in-class curriculum; corporate site visits; a college prep/scholarship program; and a Home Life skills Program for middle schools, which includes grades four through six.

SGA Leadership Institute of Chicago

The Leadership Institute of Chicago is the non-profit and research arm of S. Graham & Associates has worked with communities for more than two decades to create programs for youth that emphasize achievement, leadership and educational opportunities. LIC was developed and presented to the White House staff and representatives of the Department of Education. It proposed building a broad-based coalition of organizations and community leaders working together to enhance and support education reform by:

1. Creating an environment for action
2. Establishing a sense of community involvement and cooperation
3. Identifying needed resources and best practices and making them more accessible to the community and their leaders
4. Redefining the perception of achievement and success among today’s youth, and
5. Introducing programs aimed at helping youth – one at a time – strive for personal excellence and a higher level of performance.

FIND OUT MORE:

For more information about SGA youth programs or sponsorship opportunities, contact S. Graham & Associates at (312) 755-0234 or Nadia Estrada at nestrada@stedmangraham.com.

"Stedman Graham's life planning program is a perfect fit for our youth when presented to them at the right time in their school career in a systematic and creative manner. Students delivered incredible testimonials on the new vision that they acquired about who they are and where they intend to go with their lives as a direct result of the reflections that Mr. Graham's lessons sparked within them. Today's youth are Tomorrow's Leaders, Citizens and Parents. They deserve this opportunity to know the steps it takes to succeed in life!"

— Cheryl Ernst, Former Superintendent, Carlsbad Unified School District, San Diego, CA

"It was a pleasure to participate in the session, as it was lively, well received and set a positive and enthusiastic tone for this new component of the You Can Make It Happen in Job Corps program. Your significant personal commitment, ultimately led to a mix of training, activities and media that clearly resonated with many of the students. The pilot complements the goals and objectives of the Career Development Services System well, providing additional tools and support to our student as they progress towards achieving their personal and professional goals."

— Lauren Morales, Center Director, Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center

"I wish someone like him [Stedman Graham] had been around to enlighten me at an age when finding myself and a career changed or decision was within easy reach. All I needed, as he formulated, was a "process."

— Janice Jones, Junior Achievement of Chicago

"Thank you so much for sharing so generously of your time with the Department of Labor's Youth Program Staff. Your message and your approach to helping young people bring focus to their lives is truly inspirational. My staff benefited greatly from your insights."

— Alexis Herman, Former Secretary of Labor, Washington D.C.

"I am writing to thank you for making the 92nd Commencement at Coker College a successful and inspiring occasion. Very positive comments are stilling coming in from students, parents, and faculty about you address. Harris DeLoach, Chief Operating Officer of SONOCO, told me that all the commencement speeches he has heard, your speech is at the very top of the list!"

— Dr. Ronald Carter, Dean of Faculty, Coker College, Hartsville, SC