Changing, Shaping Lives Story By Ann Cipperly Photos By InTown Imagery and Contributed by The Johnsons
T
he Lee County community needed mentoring for young men. Former Auburn Police Officer Gregory Johnson saw the need in 2014 and wanted to do something to help. He organized L.E.A.P.S. (Leadership, Education, Achievement, Partnership and Service), a proactive program that has the ability to curb potential crime, poor academic performance and other negative aspects of bad decision making. “L.E.A.P.S. was formed to have a positive impact on the lives of young men in our community,” Johnson
said. “This mentoring program provides young men with responsibility, respect, discipline, service, achievement and honesty to help them achieve their dreams and develop into leaders.” Along with building character, the program assists young men with knowledge, such as how to dress, interview for a job and treat women with respect. One of the first events planned was an annual mother-son dance. “It teaches young men how to treat the first woman they fall in love with, which is their mother,” Johnson
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