by Yvette Griffea-Gray Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 3/17/2009

To those who know Quadree "Coach Q" Drakeford, it comes as no surprise that The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John C. Maxwell is one of his favorite books. He has certainly achieved a great deal in his personal life, including playing Division I basketball for Grambling State University and a successful professional career.

But, as Maxwell states, "Highly competent leaders do more than perform at a high level. They inspire and motivate their people to do the same." And inspiration is the very heart of what Coach Q does through his organization, Protect the E.D.G.E.

At first glance, the program may seem like just another sports camp, but it offers young participants a great deal more. Along with learning skills on the basketball court, participants in Protect the E.D.G.E. also learn skills for life.

When asked about the need he saw in the community, Drakeford states, "There has been such a change in my life through sports, but personal development has taken me to another level. I thought, wouldn't it be cool to have a sports camp and a personal development camp in one...where you can get the edge."

From there he developed the mission of his organization, which is to develop youth through sports by utilizing the principles of Excelling, Dreaming, Goal Setting, and Education (E.D.G.E.).

While the vision of Protect the E.D.G.E was birthed in Virginia, Minnesotans reaped the benefit when Drakeford relocated to Minneapolis in 2006. He hit the ground running, but not without opposition.

"It was difficult being new to the area, Drakeford recalls." 'People wanted to know, Who is this guy?' 'What are his qualifications?' "I just needed people to buy in and learn what the program was about."

He says he overcame the obstacles through sheer persistence. 'I knocked on a lot of doors. I went to schools and looked for ways to partner with the community."

That persistence paid off when his first camp was held in 2007. The camps have grown from 28 to 200 youth in just two short years, and people are starting to take notice, including professional teams like the Minnesota Lynx, the programs 2008 sponsor.

Drakeford attributes the success of the program first and foremost to God. "I am not an expert on this book, but a lot of my wisdom comes from the Bible." Secondly, Coach Q credits his passion for the next generation.

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" is another quote from Maxwell's book that exemplifies what Coach Q is doing in the community. Both parents and youth agree that caring is a big component of Protect the E.D.G.E camps.

Josiah, a 15-year-old participant, says he likes the program because of the variety of coaches, the help he receives individually, and the outreach of the coaches. He also states, "I like the special speakers that come in, because they tell you about the real world. They don't just focus on going to the NBA; they tell you how you can achieve your dreams in life." Nine-year-old Eric agrees and points out that the program is also a lot of fun.

Protect the E.D.G.E is not just for boys - girls participate as well. Ayo, who is 12, says it has been nice playing with other girls, and attending the camps has helped her to become a better athlete.

Topping the list of what draws parents to the program is that the camp is affordable, structured, and the kids love it. Sam, a first-time parent to the program and Ayo's uncle, says he really appreciates the focus on education.

"Our family is really involved in sports, but if you don't make it to the big dance, you need to have your education in place to support you," said Sam. When asked about benefits off the court, Paula, Josiah's mother, says her son has become self-motivated as a result of attending the camps.

Speaking of why he believes his program participants are actually "getting the message," Drakeford says, "There are all sorts of ingredients that go into the recipe...but one key is the reinforcement of the principles on all levels of the program and the careful consideration of the coaches and speakers involved. Everyone is like-minded in the vision we are presenting."

So what's next? Coach Q has taken his inspirational message beyond the court and accepted invitations to speak to students, businesses and other groups. Protect the E.D.G.E. is working on an entrepreneurial division, and Raechelle Drakeford, Coach Q's wife, is heading up Butterfly Springs Tutoring and Mentoring. This program focuses on mentoring and tutoring youth in math, reading and science across the Twin Cities Metro area.

For more information on Protect the E.D.G.E. or Butterfly Springs, visit www.protecttheedgenow.com, or call 612-216-0845. Yvette Griffea-Gray welcomes reader responses to nubei@aol.com.

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