Coach Alfred Powell’s Weekend Visit
The Mirrors programme invited motivational speaker and educator Coach Alfred Powell to Bermuda to participate in various community empowerment initiatives this weekend.
Coach Powell is a high school coach, author, motivator, and a professor who has been visiting Bermuda over the last 10 years through various organizations and in numerous capacities.
A spokesperson said: “The intention of this visit is to reach out to different sectors of the community, to empower them to strive for greatness no matter what their situation or circumstances are and to encourage the community to reconnect and work together to reduce the violent trends occurring on the island.”
Coach Powell said: “The work is challenging all over the world and Bermuda is no different. Violence is an issue that needs to be dealt with and we want our young people to get it. There are other ways to handle ones anger and displeasures.The world is waiting for them [the youth]. They are a very important part of our society.”
Coach Powell visited Sandys Secondary Middle School and the West Gate Correctional Facility on Wednesday January 13th, 2011 and the Co-ED Correctional Facility and the Farm Facility on Thursday, January 14th, 2011 where he delivered “inspiring” presentations.
Principal at Sandys Middle School, Dr. Timothy Jackson, said: “The entire Sandys Secondary Middle School family thoroughly enjoyed Coach Powell’s presentation. Mr. Powell shared with us a few of his life experiences that taught him the importance of treating everyone with respect, as well as using humor and intellect to emphasize the importance of feeling good about yourself. Coach Powell spoke about many of the issues students in middle schools struggle with on a daily basis, including bullying, teasing, peer pressure and low self-esteem.”
“He gave us a message, and that message is ‘You can laugh at a joke but don’t be the joke’,” said one student. “Also, ‘don’t tease people because what goes around comes around’.”
One Prison Officer of the Co-Ed Correctional Facility said after the presentation: “It was awesome, enlightening, spiritual – he is the real deal. I would recommend that he come back and work with the young men.”
Coach Powell also visited The Whitney Middle School, The Berkeley Institute andholed a special meeting with parents and coaches of the Mirrors programme yesterday. Today he will work with the Cohort 6 (all males) and Cohort 7 (male and female) participants and their coaches along with local police officers.
For more information on how you can play a part in the Mirrors Programme call 294-9291 or email mirrors@gov.bm .
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