Editor’s Note: We hope you enjoy this new campaign, Leaders Who Inspire Us!
Today’s featured leader is Kendrick Dial, a Substance Abuse Counselor, mentor for foster, homeless, and runaway youth, conflict resolution consultant/trainer, and facilitator of the Restorative Justice Mediation Program’s victim/offender dialogue conferences. He is also an adjunct at City College EOPS department and teaches a Personal Growth class. He has also cultivated his role as an artist for over 12 years. He is the front man for the award-winning spoken word, hip-hop soul band, The Lyrical Groove, which won consecutive San Diego Music Awards; in 2013 for best Hip Hop Artist and 2014 for Best Hip Hop Album. In 2015 he released a full LP, SPOKEN SOUL: Music for Life, with The Lyrical Groove. He received his BA in Africana Studies/Psychology from SDSU in 2010 and graduated from USC with his MSW in 2013. Kendrick has been recognized for his work as an artist and advocate in the community with the Urban League’s Leaders Under 40 award in 2006 and a San Diego Prestige Award in 2012.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU?
My inspiration is my daughter. She reminds me of the simple things in life, like connection, like being still, like following your joy. Sometimes when I’m too focused on the ills in my world, she gives me focus on what really matters. What it means to be present and how powerful it is for each and every one of us to have a connection.
ACTION ITEM (What is your big action item to make a difference?)
I want to help the world appreciate creativity one person at a time. We are not all the same. Through our creativity we are able to thrive and approach life in a very different way, that allows us to bring forth the best version of ourselves and explore the possibilities. This includes children and adults. I see creativity in the artist, as well as the scientist, the secretary, the rambunctious student, and the CEO.
SUPERPOWER (What is your superpower?)
I believe my superpower is the “insightful reframe.” I have been very fortunate in life but coming to that insight comes to a lot of unfortunate moments. Being able to see a different perspective allows us to connect to situations beyond the circumstances that may be presented to us. Leaders are able to see things through multiple lenses and see circumstances beyond what is there on the surface.
FAVORITE QUOTE (and why)
“It’s not about what happens to you, but how you respond to it.”
Not sure who said, but it takes the weight off our experiences and gives us back our power to get beyond it.