The BIO of Dexter A. Powell, Jr.

Delivering messages of perseverance through fear and pain is intentional for author and inspirational speaker, Dexter A. Powell Jr. He has risen above the fires of his life turning his failures into success by showing how faith, hope and love prevail despite dire circumstances. Through his transparency about devastating lows andeuphoric highs, he transforms hearts and minds. The trauma he endured during his childhood led to addiction, juvenile delinquency and mental health issues that affected his adulthood.

Seeking solace in food began Powell’s struggles with addiction at the age of 7. His addiction to food coupledwith severe anxiety and depression caused his weight to balloon to 504 lbs. Faced with the limits of hismortality, he underwent bariatric surgery and lost over 300 lbs. Powell shed his physical weight, but the weight of his mental illness fed his addiction to multiple illicit substances.

Throughout his life, Powell’s soul was scarred by self-gratifying behaviors that fed a vicious cycle that almost consumed him. When his addictions spiraled, he lost everything of monetary value to his family. Facing his shame from disappointing others and himself, he discovered the darkest places in his life were the roadmap to the greatest light of his purpose. As he nears the age of 40, he recalls spending more time in his life wanting to die than wanting to live because his life reflected the curses that had been spoken over him. 

His journey to healing began during his stay in a mental health hospital due to attempted suicide, in 2017. At his lowest point, Powell’s love for writing along with his renewed faith lit the path to his breakthrough. This is a gift in itself because he failed almost every English class in school. He describes his writing as “an infusion of Heaven now resonating in and through my life giving me the ability to express through words.” Ascending from rock bottom revealed the purpose of his pain—to impact others with his testimony.

After wandering through the wilderness of his addictions, mental health illnesses and even stage 3 cancer, Powell is on a mission to share his story with others while mentoring young boys and men. In the midst of the global pandemic, he embarked on a spiritual journey that entailed a fast from food. He drank water and herbal tea only for 29 days. On day 11 of the fast, he heard God’s voice give him a grand vision of writing a book titled, Young King: Take Your Stand, that will become mandatory reading in African-American homes nationwide. God also told Powell to give away one million copies of the book. 

Since the husband and father was a teen parent, he understands the need for guidance and support during tumultuous times. His speeches draw interest from various platforms as his layered life experiences enable himto address taboo societal and cultural issues. He has been a guest speaker for the Detroit City Council’s Mental Health Task Force, as well as for the Mentor2Youth Young King Day held in Ypsilanti, Michigan. His profound story was featured on Fox 2 Detroit and The Detroit Praise Network. While most seek monetary gain from their gifts, Powell gains fulfillment from spreading sage advice to at-risk youth. Thus, he visits venues in and around where he resides, distributing his book while connecting one-on-one with his community. 

With a heart that has always been centered toward the plight of seniors and children, Powell’s past occupations include being a caregiver whose work emulated love from an empathetic point of understanding. He learned valuable lessons about patience under duress, loving past one’s hate and the awareness and ability to problem solve quickly. Two of his most significant roles involved serving individuals with traumatic brain injuries and providing hospice care for a 93-year-old white man with whom he had in-depth discussions about race, music and the state of the world. 

Powell’s future plans include establishing the nonprofit Young King Centers, for growth and development in urban communities across America. He will also host Young King Conferences and Symposiums. One of the mantras by which he lives is to always dream bigger than your biggest dream and watch an even bigger dream unfold.

He aims to be an example of how to escape the chains of pain and fear by pouring from a place of love with purposeful actions. As he often advises, “Make your next decision, your best decision because it can become your last decision.” 

Visit youngkingbook.com to learn more about Dexter A. Powell, Jr.’s outstanding life and to order a free limited edition of Young King: Take Your Stand. Follow Powell on Facebook at Author Dexter Powell Jr.  and on Instagram @Iamdexpow. Reach him directly via email at orderyoungking@gmail.com