Spotlight: Mary McDowell Friends School

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Spotlight: Mary McDowell Friends School

Leadership is an action sport.

Leadership isn’t something you sit back and watch go by, it’s something that requires you to get up and act. That is what Mary McDowell Friends School(MMFS) in Brooklyn, NY is reminding their student-athletes.

For the third year, the student-athletes of MMFS collected shoes throughout their school community partnering up with Soles4Soles providing shoes to the organization that helps needy individuals around the world receive essential footwear.

During the course of the three years, MMFS has collected over 3000 shoes!

Shoes are collected throughout the three different school buildings (elementary, middle, and upper) with shoe campaigns and messaging that take place for a month.

Athletic Director Justin Schumacher shared, “I wanted my leaders and athletes to experience a community service project that wasn’t too strenuous but was also very rewarding and meaningful. There is never enough good in the world and we want to do our part to produce positive change.”

Mary McDowell Friends School has utilized Lead ‘Em Up for the last year and as a result, each of the participating athletes gets a Lead ‘Em Up t-shirt to wear during the shoe collection.

The student-athletes love the experience of giving back and leading up their community.

“Oftentimes we think of nice and expensive shoes as a luxury but often forget there are people who are in desperate need of shoes. It was a great experience to take part in this event and give to people who are not fortunate enough to have the proper footwear,” said Junior Matteo Netto.

MMFS looks to continue its annual tradition with the hopes of growing its donation bigger and bigger each year.

Have fun and #LeadEmUp

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2025 Green 13 Recipients

2025 Green 13 Recipients

The Green 13 Award celebrates student-athletes who lead with heart, uplift others, and consistently live out what it means to be a great leader.

Podcasts

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

Watch the full video here: leademup.com/greenroom

What if the key to unlocking leadership potential in your team isn’t just about developing others, but about being the kind of person who is a joy to lead? In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked truth: leadership flows best through people who are enjoyable to lead. You’ll learn the four traits of these individuals and how cultivating them can create a culture where leadership multiplies.

We’ll also explore a simple yet powerful question: Where are you today? Challenging, easy, or enjoyable to lead? Your answer could change everything about how you lead, and how others rise around you

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

Green Room Ep. 3: Know Me to Lead Me – The Power of Connection on Championship Teams

Watch the full video here: leademup.com/greenroom

You can’t challenge someone to be great if you haven’t earned their trust. In this episode, we unpack one of the most overlooked truths in sports leadership: before you can lead me, you need to know me.

Championship teams aren’t just talented, they’re connected. They build relationships deep enough to allow for honest feedback, accountability, and real growth. So why do most teams skip straight to “calling each other out” without laying the foundation? In this episode, we will explore the truth that you can’t challenge someone to be their best until you’ve earned their trust, and that trust only comes through genuine connection. This episode breaks down why peer leadership often fails in sports teams and how coaches and players can build the kind of culture where teammates lead each other effectively.

Download the Green Room Player Reflection Template, a simple PDF that coaches can use to have their players reflect on the episode. It’s perfect for sparking discussion and capturing key takeaways.

Download here: https://leademup.com/the-green-room-player-reflection-worksheet/

Get Part 1 Free

Get access to part 1 of the Green Team Framework FREE!