KINDNESS IN PROGRESS
KINDNESS IN PROGRESS
2026 Featured IFAAA MLK Banquet Keynote Speaker
ALFRED “COACH” POWELL
Special visual presentation by: COACH JIM PLACE
Presented By: Idaho Falls African American Alliance
ALFRED “COACH” POWELL
BEHIND THE SPEAKER
KINDNESS IN PROGRESS
“You can’t talk your way to a championship. You have to work your way to a championship!”
Alfred “Coach” Powell is an award‑winning keynote speaker, lecturer, author and an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare. He is widely known as the “Dean of Street Psychology” for his groundbreaking research into street culture, trauma, and youth development.
30+ years as a high school track and football coach, and certified violence‑prevention specialist have earned Powell many accolades in a life dedicated to service; the development of youth, trauma resolution and bringing together communities of different backgrounds through sports.
“Building better athletes and better humans”
Coach Alfred Powell, Jim Place and the Miami Valley Football Coaches Association host an annual Social Justice 7-on-7 tournament in Dayton(OH) since 2020. The event brings high school football teams together for non-contact competition and seminars on social justice, diversity, and inclusion.
About the Social Justice 7-on-7 tournament
Location: The tournament is hosted in the Dayton area, with games held at locations such as the University of Dayton, Chaminade Julienne Catholic, and Stebbins High School.
Organizers: The event was founded by retired coaches Jim Place and Al Powell.
Purpose: The goal is to bring together Black and White athletes from different schools to create understanding and acceptance through sports.
Activities: In addition to playing 7-on-7 games, student-athletes and coaches participate in seminars featuring speakers and discussions on topics related to social justice.
Improved Understanding: A senior quarterback from Middletown High, Joseph "JoJo" Ward, recounted how the discussions helped him bond with a player from an all-White team, realizing they shared similar feelings about people unnecessarily separating themselves by race. The core message of the event is "contact brings acceptance".
Personal Growth for Coaches and Players: Coaches have praised the event for helping their athletes grow as people, not just players. Springfield head coach Mo Douglass noted the power of football to bring people from different backgrounds together, fostering the "brotherhood" necessary for a successful team.
Focus on Development Beyond Football: The event organizers emphasize the goal of developing the next generation of productive citizens, giving them tools that extend beyond the football field and can be used throughout their lives.
“The root of all stigmas are fear”
Notable Speakers and Attendees at the 7-on-7 Social Justice Football Competitions
While not participants of the camp as high schoolers, several former NFL and college players have attended and spoken at the event, demonstrating its reach and perceived value:
Brandon McKinney: A former defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, and Indianapolis Colts, who played at Michigan State and Chaminade-Julienne High School, has attended and provided food for the event, showing support for its mission.
Ickey Woods: Former Cincinnati Bengals legend has spoken passionately to the kids at the event.
Keith Byars and Chris Borland: These former college and NFL players have also taken part in celebrity competitions and discussions to support the event's goals.
The primary impact highlighted in news coverage is the creation of meaningful dialogue and connections between young athletes from diverse communities.
The event has expanded and now more clearly supports schools and coaches, even though individual career success isn't the primary way it advances lessons in social justice.
IN THE NEWS
Coach Alfred Powell, and Coach Jim Place featured on Stephanie Rhule’s “ The 11th Hour” on MSNOW September 9th, 2025.
Awards & Accomplishments
Powell is a Trauma Recovery Consultant for schools and youth agencies around the country and Caribbean.
Preventionist for the DeTour Anti-Bullying Program, and Co-founder/Director of Coaches for Social Justice.
Hall of Fame coach in football and track & field in the State of Ohio
Powell led his teams to: 16 state championships, 21 league football titles, and 12 state playoff appearances, with 24 student-athletes advancing to professional careers.
A prolific author and lyricist, Powell has written numerous acclaimed books, including: Beyond The
Bystander (2024), Check: Changing the Game for Student Success! (2022), and Hip Hop Hypocrisy
(2006), along with the educational CD: “School’s In Session.”
Via: Youtube: WeCarePeople Podcast
Apr 28, 2025
From the Sidelines to the Soul: Coach Powell's Journey in Healing and Empowerment
Don’t miss your chance to hear Alfred “Coach” Powell’s dynamic Speech in person!
Alfred “Coach” Powell will be our featured Keynote speaker (w/ special visual presenter Coach Jim Place) at the 19th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Idaho Falls African American Alliance Banquet Dinner on January, 23rd, 2026 @6-9:30PM. Make sure you get your tickets here! The event will take place at the Mountain America Center located at:
“We must remember that intelligence is not enough,” King advised. “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.