Each week The Light District showcases an individual leading through Christ. This week The Light District is proud to Hi(Light) Steve Sanders. Thank you for your passion, commitment, humility, and love for community. We pray for continued success and leadership for you through God’s purpose.
Steve Sanders Bio
Steve Sanders was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where he attended East High School. He played football for East High’s historic Blue Bombers and graduated from the school’s Academy of Finance. Steve continued his education at Bowling Green State University where he also played football and finished with impressive career stats of 156 receptions for 2,324 yards and 24 touchdowns. More importantly, he graduated college with a degree in Political Science. Sanders on field success led him to play in the NFL for his hometown, the Cleveland Browns, during the 2006-2008 seasons. He also has played for the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, and United Football League.
In addition, to his professional football background, Steve founded the non-profit My H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Organize Dreams) and co-Founded The Steve Sanders Stallions Youth Sports Organization. As part of his life commitment to directly impacting young people who have come from similar environments, socioeconomics and urban generation as he has, Sanders has recently announced the opening of The Steve Sanders Academy, an Ohio Community School opening August 2011 in his old community. Sanders relates to and understands the issues young people are dealing with, especially the trials and tribulations that they must overcome within education. His professional athletic status attracts young people, which allows him opportunities to influence positive transformation in their lives.
At the age of 28, Sanders is one of the youngest people across the country to found and actively participate in the development of an educational institution. He is also one of the first athletes to step away from his childhood dream of playing professional football to commit his life to directly impacting youth by opening a charter school.
Aside from what my bio will tell you about me, I would like to share a little insight on what God is doing through me, for me and to me. When Tasha Briggs, creator of The Light District, asked me to be the featured “light” this week I was humbled. I started to think about what I would share about myself. I thought to myself “what will I say?” and “what would people want to know about me?”. After I spent some time trying to come up with the perfect things to say and how I was going to paint this perfect picture about what I’ve accomplished, then the Lord lead me to just share from the heart. So here it goes…
I’ve been asked why would a football player open a school? How did you do it? Who helped you? Where did the idea come from? All roads lead to God. It was by faith that The Steve Sanders Academy was born. It started as a phone call in 2010. I received a phone call from my sports agent. He asked where I was mentally on playing in the NFL again. I shared with him that I was still in shape, I was ready to play but I wasn’t going to stress it. He understood where I was coming from. He’d been down this road with several players. He knew that the business of the NFL was brutal and it could swallow a man whole if he wasn’t mentally tough enough to stand strong through adversity. One thing you may not know about the NFL is that hundreds of players career’s end every year. Most with them not having a back up plan, money saved or a college degree. 30 for 30, an ESPN Films network, featured a documentary last year titled “Broke”. In this film they stated that over 80% of NFL players file for bankruptcy, are divorced and/or unemployed within 2 years of leaving/retiring from the NFL. I was very aware of these statistics. I was at a point in my life where I had to think of what life after football would be for me? I started to think “what else would I do in life? I was a step ahead of the game. I graduated from college with a degree in Political Science from Bowling Green State University. I founded 2 nonprofit organizations based in my old community (My H.O.O.D., Steve Sanders Stallions – Little League Football Team), so I had some things working for me.
There came a point where I asked myself “what else do you love so much that you would do it for free?”. The reason I asked myself this question was because that’s how I felt about football. I didn’t play football because of the money, fame and glory. I played because I loved the game. I was passionate about it! Don’t get me wrong, the money was GREAT! The money was icing on the cake for me(LOL). The answer to my question was there all along. It was helping at risk youth in communities that were similar to the one I grew up in. The answer was being an advocate for young male athletes. The answer was being an advocate for change. The answer was being a light in dark places, a voice for the voiceless. I prayed that God would reveal to me what was next in my life. He revealed to me that what I was trying to figure out, He had already worked out! He had already positioned me for what was next because He knows our end at our beginning. All I had to do was trust in Him to lead me and be obedient to HIS process.
Getting back to the point from that rabbit trail I just went on, opening the school. My agent told me he was very proud of the work I was doing in the community. He said he had never represented a player with the drive and passion I had for the community. He then went on to say that he received a call from a company that specialized in opening schools and they were interested in opening a new school in the Cleveland area. They were looking for a “ change advocate” that would be willing to partner with them. If that wasn’t God, I really don’t know what is. That phone call lead to connecting with that company and ultimately the opening of The Steve Sanders Academy a year and a half later. I shared this story because it is the reason why I have started a new nonprofit organization in February 2013 called Training Camp For Life. I want young men, athletes to be specific, to know and understand that they are not defined by their athletic ability. I want them to know that their accomplishments in sports only add to who they are and the person God has called them to be. Through this organization aimed at ages 14-24 yr. old males, we will show them how to turn their talents into gifts, address issues of false masculinity, discuss the purpose of men, proper financial responsibility, emphasize performance based training and show them how to build/leave a legacy. In addition to the organization I am in the process of writing a book discussing these same principles scheduled to be released by the end of 2013.
This is my purpose. This is why I was blessed to make it to the NFL and become a professional athlete. It’s why I have an influence and that’s to save souls. I embrace it. It took some time to mature to this point but now that I am here, I am fully committed to living my life for the Kingdom and being a light in dark places.
I pray that sharing this brief story has blessed someone reading out there. In closing, I’d like to thank some of my personal influences; Pastor, Dr. R.A. Vernon of “The Word” Church, Author and Inspirational Speaker, Ernst Brown and my personal hero, and strongest person I know, Teresa Majors – my mother. Remember to always be who you were called to be, we never know who is watching. Be a light in dark places!
Thank you Light District for allowing me to shed a little light on the world,
Steve Sanders
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