As 14 students sat at tables in the art room at Brooklyn School – a part of the Brooklyn City School District – they each drew their own cleat designs on worksheets.
Their art teacher, Joanne Becker, and local artist Jonathan Hrusovsky, walked around the classroom to talk with students and see their designs. As the students worked diligently on their drawings, they received a visit from a special guest. DT Shelby Harris walked into the classroom and greeted the students, and each student's face lit up with excitement.
Harris shared with the students that the designs they were drawing would be featured on a pair of cleats Harris would wear in Week 13 against the 49ers as part of the NFL's league-wide initiative My Cause My Cleats. He also explained that Hrusovsky would take their drawings and incorporate all the elements onto the cleats.
"Seeing all these different designs, I'm just very excited to see how they will all come together. I think that all these kids are extremely talented, and everyone has their own personality that kind of comes behind it," Harris said. "They wouldn't have put it down and drawn it if it's not something that was near and dear to their heart, and so, I'm excited to show showcase it on the shoes."
Harris' cleats were designed by Hrusovsky, the artist behind "Hrusovsky's Custom Kicks," a Cleveland-based venture specializing in hand-painted, one-of-a-kind designs on footwear and other sporting equipment. His portfolio includes collaborations with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, MLB All-Star Weekend and the Cleveland Guardians, as well as former Browns player Austin Hooper, Anthony Walker Jr. and Maurice Hurst II for My Cause My Cleats.
This is the third season Hrusovsky has worked with the Browns as part of My Cause My Cleats. Hrusovsky compiled elements from the students' drawings into the cleats, including different colors or characters, to highlight the creativity of the students.
"I love this year's (designs). So, this year we saw a lot more kids use – besides just the brown and orange – more colors. One girl had almost pastel-like colors and flowers. I just love that. She just loves to be very colorful. And so, it's nice to see that. They just have some very creative minds," Hrusovsky said. "It's always an honor to be back, to have the kids show off their creativity. It's got a special place in my heart for all this, to see all the creativity, and how many kids can be so creative. So, it's just amazing. It's been a blessing to be able to do this."
During Weeks 12 and 13 of the 2025 NFL season, players across the league have the opportunity to pick a cause important to them and represent that organization on a pair of custom designed cleats as a part of the league-wide initiative My Cause My Cleats.
My Cause My Cleats was first launched in 2016, creating a connection between the NFL and players to allow them to create their art and represent philanthropic organizations, passions and movements through individual designs. This year, those participating on the Browns will wear their cleats in Week 13 when Cleveland hosts the 49ers at Huntington Bank Field.
"It's such a cool opportunity for them, and a cool opportunity for me because you go out there and make a big play, and they talk about My Cause My Cleats, and then now you start talking about the kids, start talking about Stay in the Game!" Harris said. "And that's kind of the whole purpose of this whole thing, to bring more awareness to attendance around the country and just making sure that we do give kids the ability, and we reward them for going to school. Because without school, you won't be able to achieve much in life."
The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, launched by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Harvard's Proving Ground, and now managed by Battelle, aims to support students while striving to increase school attendance. The Network partners with 237 districts and impacts more than 600,000 students throughout Ohio, which includes hosting events at local schools to encourage students to come to school each day.
Brooklyn City School District has been a part of the Network for three years and has utilized the resources provided to continue their efforts to decrease chronic absenteeism in the district. The 14 students who participated in the cleat design were chosen for their strong interest in art and design, as well as their outstanding attendance. Many of the students are also involved in the arts, with a large portion belonging to the National Junior Art Society.
"It made them feel so, so special," Becker said. "And at a time when a lot of times art takes a second seat to a lot of other things. These are kids that really thrive in art and love art. And so now they feel like they're getting recognized for their talents and for their passion in a different way that they don't usually see."
Harris first became an ambassador for the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network in 2025 alongside teammates and fellow ambassadors G Joel Bitonio, S Grant Delpit and WR Cedric Tillman.
Harris has attended multiple events with Stay in the Game! throughout the 2025 fall semester. He first served as "Principal for the Day" on Sept. 23 at Warrensville Heights Elementary School. After reviewing all of the participating schools in the Attendance Awareness Month spirit contest, which challenged schools to showcase their Browns pride and commitment to strong attendance, Harris selected Warrensville Heights as the winner. Then, Harris surprised a class at Eastern Heights Elementary School on Oct. 21 with a Halloween visit, in recognition of the Elyria School District's progress to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Education has been an important part of Harris' life, as his mother was a special education teacher. Not only has education played a role in Harris reaching his goals, but he also sees a responsibility in his position as a professional football player to encourage students to prioritize their education.
"It starts early putting an emphasis into going to school and being the best in school you could possibly be," Harris said. "And for me, the idea is if you can go and maybe change one kid's life, or that they might remember for the rest of their lives these opportunities, and it hopefully can propel them to do greater things."
Harris' involvement, from school visits to wearing cleats inspired by local students, reinforces the mission of the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network and highlights the importance of consistent attendance. When Harris steps out on the field on Nov. 30, he will help to spread encouragement of attending school through his student-inspired cleats.
"We don't necessarily, as football players, believe in the status that necessarily comes with being a football player, but it does mean something," Harris said. "And so, we got to use it for good. We got to use it to encourage the youth, and we've got to try to make a change. We didn't get these abilities, and we didn't do all this hard work just to sit there and not give back. And that's what the goal is. We've got to find a way to make the youth better, make the next generation a little bit better. I've got to be able to look at my kids at dinner at the end of the day and say, 'I tried to make the world a better place.'"
