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Empowering the Next Generation: Celebrating Women and Girls in Sports

 

We’re Honored To Be Featured In Voyage Utah

Empower Baseball recently had the opportunity to be featured in Voyage Utah’s “Inspiring Conversations” series, and we’re incredibly grateful for the chance to share our story. This interview wasn’t just about baseball—it was about faith, friendship, and a 25–year journey that started in the streets of the Dominican Republic and led to a small nonprofit with a big belief: education is the real game–changer.

Key Takeaways

  • Empower Baseball was founded in 2020 to address exploitation in Dominican baseball.

  • The organization operates in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

  • 100% of student-athletes in the program are enrolled in school.

  • The model prioritizes education-first baseball development.

  • Founder Brian Straley was inspired by his time serving in the Dominican Republic.

Where Our Story Really Began

In the interview, I shared how my story began as a teenage missionary from northern Utah, called to serve in the Santo Domingo West Mission in the Dominican Republic. I arrived knowing two things: they spoke Spanish, and they loved baseball. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the country—and its people—would shape the rest of my life.​

Baseball in the DR isn’t just a sport; it’s identity, culture, and often the only visible path out of poverty. But as I met players who had been chewed up and spit out by the baseball system, I also saw the cost when there is no backup plan—no high school diploma, no job opportunities, and no safety net for their families. Those friendships and stories stayed with me long after I came home.

Why Empower Baseball Exists

Voyage Utah gave us space to talk about the “why” behind Empower Baseball. In 2020, after a serious health scare pushed me to stop waiting and start acting, we launched Empower Baseball as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Barahona, one of the poorest and most remote areas of the Dominican Republic.

Our model is simple but different:

  • Baseball and softball are the hook.

  • Education is the price of admission.

  • Graduation is non‑negotiable.

Kids in our program receive free, pro‑level training, uniforms, structure, and daily access to clean water at the field—but only if they stay in school, keep their grades up, and commit in writing to graduate from high school. In a country where less than half of students finish high school and only around one–fifth complete secondary education, that commitment changes everything.

What Makes This Work Different

In the interview, I shared that Empower Baseball is not a traditional Dominican baseball academy. We are not part of the buscón system, we don’t charge players, and our focus isn’t signing bonuses—it’s diplomas, degrees, and real options for life after sports.

Today, we serve around 50 boys in Barahona, with plans to launch girls’ softball in 2026 and grow to about 70 youth as funding allows. Our local General Manager, Bernarda Acosta, works directly with families and schools to track grades, address academic struggles early, and make sure baseball keeps kids in school instead of pulling them out.

We run practices and games year‑round, but what happens off the field matters even more: mentoring, accountability, and consistent support for kids who are trying to break out of generational poverty. Whether they end up in college, trade school, or stable employment, our success is measured in futures—not in stat lines.

The Hard Road (And Why It’s Worth It)

Voyage Utah also asked what the journey has really been like—and the honest answer is that it has not been smooth. I had never started a nonprofit before, and while an MBA and an operations background helped, nothing fully prepared me for learning compliance, fundraising, communication, and leadership on the fly.​

Some of the hardest lessons have been:

  • Passion isn’t enough—clarity is. If people can’t quickly understand the mission, they don’t know how to help.​

  • Trying to carry everything alone leads to burnout. This work only moves forward when others share ownership.​

  • “Baseball” can be misunderstood. We constantly have to explain that in the DR, baseball isn’t recreational—families stake their future on it, often at the cost of education.​

Despite the challenges, every setback has refined our structure, sharpened our mission, and strengthened our resolve. I don’t think I would trust what we’re building now if it hadn’t been tested.

A Personal Invitation To Join Us

One of the last things I shared in the Voyage Utah piece is advice I wish I’d followed sooner: say yes to help, start small, and don’t wait decades to act on something you feel called to do. Empower Baseball still runs about 95% self‑funded, and I continue to volunteer my time because I believe that if we build something real and rooted in local leadership, people will eventually come.​

If the interview resonated with you, there are a few simple ways you can step onto the field with us:

  • Become a monthly donor and help us keep kids in school with access to coaching, education, and clean water.

  • Share our story with someone who loves baseball, education, or the Dominican Republic.

  • Explore corporate or team sponsorships and make Empower Baseball part of your organization’s social impact work.

You can read the full Voyage Utah feature here: “Inspiring Conversations with Brian Straley of Empower Baseball” and learn more about our mission at empowerbaseball.org.

If we can help even a few young people graduate, pursue higher education, and step into a life beyond poverty, then all of this will have been worth it.

$5/Month Keeps Dominican kids Swinging for School and Baseball

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Empower Baseball?

Empower Baseball is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing free, education-first baseball development for youth in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

When was Empower Baseball founded?

Empower Baseball was founded in 2020 by Brian Straley.

Where does Empower Baseball operate?

The organization is based in Brigham City, Utah, with operations in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

What makes Empower Baseball different from other baseball programs?

Empower Baseball prioritizes education, requires school enrollment, and operates with a mission to prevent exploitation within Dominican baseball culture.

How can I support Empower Baseball?

Supporters can become Monthly Teammates, donate directly, sponsor a student-athlete, or partner corporately to expand educational access.

About Brian Straley

Brian Straley is the Founder and President of Empower Baseball. His leadership is rooted in faith, service, and firsthand experience in the Dominican Republic. His mission is to create a sustainable, education-driven alternative within Caribbean baseball development.

Learn more at:
https://empowerbaseball.org

Become a Monthly Teammate:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/empowerbaseball/