“Building Communities of Positive Peer Pressure”

James R. Leonard Center (The Center) Alumni Brian Coleman is the epitome of what The Center worked so diligently to accomplish; develop youth that positively impact their community.  Brian has done just that, thanks to the skills and values he was taught there.  He is the first to proclaim the significant role The Center played in him maturing into the man he is today. 

Brian learned so many things at the Center.  While basketball was not his initial reason for going, he took full advantage of the excellent coaching of Mr. Jim Jones and his staff.  With their assistance Brian became a prominent player in the city of Port Huron and an impact player on the Port Huron High School basketball team.  In addition to numerous awards his basketball talent led to a scholarship to St. Clair Community College (SC4).  Because of his success at SC4 he was able to transfer to Huron University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business and also went on to earn a Master’s of Business Administration.

As Brian reflected on his past experiences at The Center he stated, “The first time I stepped into The Center it had nothing to do with basketball.  I just went because that is where everyone was going after school.  It was a place where positive activity was occurring.  It was Positive Peer Pressure.”  

Positive Peer Pressure is something that Brian has tried to apply throughout his professional career and work in the community.  From his fifteen years working with Workforce Development Inc. to his current position as Service Learning Coordinator for Faribault School District in Faribault, Minnesota.  He has strived to create an environment of positivity where everyone is encouraged to make a positive contribution on their job and in the community.

Since joining the Faribault School District Brian has done a masterful job of creating an environment of positivity.  He noticed that with the advancement of technology, social media, and the lack of participation in programs like the James R. Leonard Center youth today lack the socialization skills needed to succeed in life.  As a result young people have no since of community and no socio-emotional connectedness, which is a contributing factor to the widespread advancement of depression and suicide.  Brian has been on a mission to change this culture.

Mr. Coleman has launched such programs as STOPS (Students Together Offering Peer Supports) which is designed to empower youth to be decision makers.  He created a number of other community school projects that teach students Service Learning skills, provide free meals and makes mental health services available, and also coaches 8^th grade basketball.  Brian has made such a positive impact in his community and the lives of young people he was a recipient of the 2018 Asset Champion Award from the Faribault Youth Investment.  This award is given to individuals who build development assets that focus on building strengths instead of fixing problems in the lives of young people.

Brian wants his children and their friends to grow up in a community where they can trust and be positively influenced by one another.  Such values not only helped him growing up in Port Huron but also strengthen his marriage of fourteen years to his beautiful wife Linda, are the same values he instills into his vibrant three children Mason, Jersey, and Harper, and also utilize to serve the community in his professional career. 

No one knows better than Brian Coleman that the James R. Leonard Center was more than just a place to play basketball.  It was the social center of the community, a place where life-long relationships were developed, and hidden dreams came to life.  It was a community of Positive Peer Pressure.