Today we’d like to introduce you to Cleo Delk.
Hi Cleo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello Nashville! I’m Cleo Delk. I have played sports since I was 8 years old. Football, basketball, track, soccer, swimming and chess. I gravitated towards football, becoming an elite youth, high school, semi-professional, and professional football player. Playing almost every position in football throughout my career, I played professionally as a Defensive Back and Wide Receiver, until the age of 28. I made several all-star teams, and played for the RPFL, where I signed my first professional contract.
Football has taught me so much that translates in the everyday world. The key things are the significance of a team, extremely hard work, and how to take accountability for the choices we make. One of the most important morals that has impacted me the most and still does, is “the things you do off the field, ultimately affect your performance on the field”, and I still use that in every aspect of my life.
After football I worked as an independent business consultant, helping several small business owners in starting their new businesses. I also founded and co-founded a few small businesses myself. I opened my real estate company called Lynn Gambits in 2018 and now work mainly with off-market real estate clients and as an office manager in my wife’s company.
I’ve only lived in Tennessee for going on 5 years. Not longat all. We are originally from Chicago, born and raised in Waukegan, IL. I had 2 sons, by the age of 17. Having my sons at such a early age, has taught me very early about leadership, selflessness, and it has been a constant motivation for me to be an example my sons, daughters and youth through out the world could be proud of, and strive to be.
Growing up in the Chicago-land area, I’ve had some very rough, violent, moments. However, now being 36, strongly rooted in my faith, husband to beautiful wife, and father to 6 amazing children, I’m more focused, persistent, and grounded than I’ve ever been.
Now, I’m a Director of an official, faith, family, and community-based nonprofit, called the Glory Developmental Academy Organization. At the Glory Developmental Academy Organization, we impact, teach and evolve our youth through our faith, family, and community-based developmental academy classes, programs, coaches, tutors, and mentors. Open to girls and boys, with the youth in our programs ranging from ages 4-18 years old.
Our focus is on sports development long-term, by developing passionate, confident, and skilled athletes. Specifically basketball, flag-football, and chess. As well as offering academic, life-skill classes, mentoring programs starting soon. Life-Skills like finances, cooking, gardening, farming, etc.
We want to develop young well-rounded minds physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Glory Developmental Academy is a non-profit organization, Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. However GDA has coaches, tutors, and mentors around the country, impacting and challenging young minds and lives in a positive way daily
Growing up, we had facilities, mentors, coaches, and programs that gave the youth in the community an opportunity to expand their minds, learn about various sports and activities, for FREE! I don’t see much of that, if any these days. The youth sports landscape has changed tremendously. Most of these teams and programs require quite a bit of money to participate. Especially if you have more than one child. Youth sports is turning into a money grab.
That’s why GDAO is so important right now. It’s gives our youth the opportunity to learn a sport, life skill, or academics for free. With experienced, passionate, and impactful coaches, teachers, mentors, and programs!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I’m blessed that God has been with me every step of the way, however growing up in the Chicago-land area has been a struggle. Gangs, guns, drugs, violence, incarceration, teenage parents, and death, are all norms. Chaos is constant.
I’m extremely blessed to come from parents how were rooted in their faith, a two parent home, and a loving family. Unfortunately, many of my friends and peers weren’t as fortunate. Being as blessed as I was, I still managed to find my way into the streets my parents tried desperately to keep me out of. That lead to me being in many situations, I felt molded me into the man I am today.
With out those pitfalls, lessons, and failures, I wouldn’t have been able to help, mentor, and guide a lot of my friends, peers, family, and youth through the same tough situations we all eventually experience in one way or another. YAHWEH had to bring me down the tough, un-smooth road, so that I could show others how to shine their light through the darkness.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I feel that you should know, we are extremely passionate and proud of what we do. The impact we have on these young men and women are priceless!
I am the Founder and Director of the Organization. I also hold the position as Head of Development. Which means my role is to focus on the group development side of the organization. We also have a Head of Training, Head of Mentoring and Counseling, and a Head of Tutoring and Academics.
Im known for my leadership and passion. Since 8 years old, I’ve been one of, if not the best players on my team and a team captain. Very early on, I understood the importance of leadership. One of the main things that great leaders carry, is the ability to make the team around them better.
What’s sets me apart is my passion. Some may take it as arrogance. Some might mistake it for aggression. I boil it down to passionate! I put my all into everything I do! My teammates, family, and friends know I would give my life for what I believe in. I understand how rare that is in people, and I’m not offended when some may be taken back by my approach. However, it’s all in LOVE!
I’m most proud of our brands timing! We are in a great time right now, because of the state of our youth. They need access to the things we provide more, maybe than ever. Our youth are more spiritual, smarter, stronger, more empowered, and financially literate then ever. Our country doesn’t have many free facilities, tutors, coaches, and programs that can help them navigate this big, scary world we, as a society, throw them into everyday.
I want your readers to know, we are just getting started. Like the YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, GDAO will be here for years to come. Not just in the Nashville-area, but throughout communities and neighborhoods in the country and world!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in YAHWEH. We all have a journey, time and purpose. What’s meant to be, will be. I do believe we have a role in how quickly or long our journey to that purpose last or if you ever see your purpose fulfilled.
Pricing:
- Non-Profit
- You can Donate, if your spirit leads you to.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: glorydevelopmentalacademy
- Facebook: Cleo J. Delk
- Youtube: Glory Developmental Academy
