Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Scullark and Robert Harris
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Shelby Metro Youth Organization proudly serves as the parent organization for the Southwind Jaguars Youth. Through our collaborative efforts, we are dedicated to nurturing young athletes and performers, providing them with the resources and support they need to excel both in sports and the arts. The Southwind Jaguars Youth Organization was founded over ten years ago in partnership with Shelby Youth Sports, the premier youth sports league in the Mid-South since 1967. In June 2020, leadership transitioned from Richard Harris to Robert Harris Jr. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a new era, as Robert Harris Jr. and Lesley Scullark joined forces to establish the Shelby Metro Youth Organization. They seamlessly integrated the Southwind Jaguars’ tackle football, cheerleading, and track and field programs as the foundation of their organization, continuing a proud legacy of excellence in youth sports. Since then, Shelby Metro Youth Organization has expanded its reach through partnerships with communities across the city, including Promise Academy Spring Hill, Hickory Hill Community Center, Southwind High School, and various local businesses. These collaborations have strengthened our impact, allowing us to broaden our program offerings to include flag football tournaments, dance, and theater. Today, we remain committed to developing not just young athletes, but future leader empowering them through sports, performing arts, and strong community connections.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any journey rooted in growth and purpose, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Building the Shelby Metro Youth Organization came with its share of challenges, but each obstacle has shaped us into who we are today. One of the biggest struggles was navigating the leadership transition in 2020, right in the midst of the global pandemic. Shifting responsibilities while ensuring the continuity of programs was no easy task. We faced uncertainties around participation, safety protocols, and maintaining community engagement during a time when connection was more important and more difficult than ever. Funding has also been an ongoing challenge. As a nonprofit dedicated to serving youth, securing the resources needed for equipment, facilities, and program expansion requires constant effort. Balancing limited budgets while trying to provide quality experiences for over 300 athletes annually is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, staff, and supporters. Additionally, fostering strong community partnerships and aligning visions with schools, businesses, and parents has required patience, adaptability, and clear communication. We’ve learned that success isn’t just about the wins on the field, it’s about building relationships, creating trust, and staying committed to the bigger picture, even when the path gets tough. Despite these struggles, every setback has fueled our determination. Challenges have taught us resilience, adaptability, and the power of teamwork not just for our youth, but for the leaders guiding them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Robert Harris Jr. and Lesley Scullark are dedicated leaders committed to youth empowerment, community development, and holistic growth through sports, performing arts, vocational training, and wellness. Through the Shelby Metro Youth Organization and Southwind Jaguars Youth Organization, they provide young people with opportunities to excel in football, cheerleading, track and field, dance, music, and workforce readiness. Their work is known for building elite-level youth programs that instill discipline, teamwork, and confidence while also expanding access to education, vocational skills, and career development, particularly in underserved communities. They take pride in creating safe, structured, and engaging spaces where hundreds of young athletes, performers, and future professionals can develop their skills both on and off the field. What sets them apart is their hands-on leadership, strong community partnerships, and unwavering dedication to mentoring youth beyond athletics and the arts—focusing on character-building, career readiness, and life skills. Their vision is to establish the first elite sports, performing arts, and vocational training school in Memphis, providing year-round opportunities for youth to thrive academically, athletically, artistically, and professionally.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to us is empowering the youth not just as athletes or performers, but as future leaders, role models, and community changemakers. We believe that every child deserves access to opportunities that help them grow in confidence, character, and purpose.
At the heart of our work is the commitment to creating a safe, supportive environment where young people feel seen, heard, and valued. Sports and the arts are powerful tools for teaching discipline, teamwork, resilience, and self-expression. But beyond the practices, games, and performances, it’s the life lessons the ones about perseverance, integrity, and leadership that truly matter.
We’re driven by the belief that strong communities start with strong youth. That’s why we invest our time, resources, and energy into programs that inspire growth on and off the field. Every moment spent mentoring, coaching, or encouraging a young person has the potential to spark greatness and not just in their lives, but in the lives they’ll touch in the future.
Ultimately, what matters most is legacy. We’re building more than an organization; we’re nurturing a movement that will continue to uplift generations long after the final whistle blows.
Pricing:
- Track And Field New Members $285
- Track And Field Returning Members $150
- Spring Football $35/ Fall Football $125 -$250
- Spring Dance/Cheer $35 Fall Dance/Cheer $150 – $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jagnations.online
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smyo_southwindjaguars
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jagnations
- Twitter: https://x.com/SMYOJAGNATION
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@smyosouthwindjaguars9456
- Other: http://linktr.ee/smyoswj
