Al Duncan: Who is this guy?

Why am I committed to helping young people?

Here's the short version:

It all started when I was raising my youngest brother. I grew up in a terrible, crime infested neighborhood in North Philly. I'm the oldest of six. My family was broke. (Surprise, surprise.)

I was molested at 5, my (teenage) parents were divorced by the time I was 15. That's the same year I found out that my dad, my hero, was addicted to crack. (He's been clean for years now. Yes!)

The expression I use when describing my childhood is "devasted, but not defeated." (Duncan Nugget #307)

Refusing to be stuck "around the way" for the rest of my life, I went on to become a professional saxophone player. I wasn't a rockstar, but I could handle my business. I walked away from it all at 24 because of a phone call from my mom.

"Al, I'm worried about your brother."

My youngest brother, Nate, was headed for trouble—life-threatening trouble. (He was 12 at the time.) You have to understand, the life expectancy for young guys in that area wasn't good...at all. So, I walked away from my career (that I was screwing up because I took it for granted) and went back to a place that I promised myself I would never go again. But that was my brother, man. It was the right thing to do.

Nate and I moved to Atlanta. I became a professional chef (No. I don't like cooking. I only did it for him.) For the most part, he stayed out of trouble and more importantly, he stayed alive.

Now that he's "all grown and sexy", I spend all of my time doing what I love to do most: helping young people and those who work with them.

I have three missions:

1. To help as many young people as possible turn their unlimited potential into exceptional performance.(I've spoken to over a million young people around the world, but...that ain't even close to being enough.)

2. To facilitate and advocate for youth development & empowerment.

3. To spread the good news about positive young people, their endeavors, and the people/organizations that support them.

You can read my full bio—complete with some of the details about my crazy childhood—here.