Al Duncan

Have you been getting your Duncan Nuggets™?

Al Duncan is the world's leading motivational speaker for at-risk youth and troubled young people. An internationally recognized authority on youth development and empowerment, Al has delivered Duncan Nuggets™, live and in-person, to over one million young people around the world.

Frequently called upon by the media to share his expertise, Al is the author of My Success Journal For Young People (3rd Edition), Get ALL Fired Up! (Revised Edition), and Big Money Student™ (April 2011). He has been awarded the President’s Call to Service Award and The National PTA Life Achievement Award, for his outstanding service in the field of youth development and empowerment.

Devastated, But Not Defeated

Al was born and raised in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods on the planet in North Philadelphia and by today’s standards, would’ve been labeled an “at-risk” student. When he was 5 years old he was molested by a male friend of the family.

Emotionally traumatized, it took him years to remember what happened. At the age of 15, Al’s world was torn to shreds again when he found out that his father, his childhood hero, was addicted to crack cocaine.

Devastated, but not defeated, Al refused to allow his personal problems stop him. He went on to enjoy careers as a professional saxophone player and a professional chef. His father’s struggle and incredible recovery inspired Al to write Duncan Nugget #21: Failure is only permanent if you quit.

At the age of 24, he walked away from his musical career and took on the tremendous responsibility of raising his youngest brother who was 12 years old at the time.

Today, as a tireless advocate for youth empowerment, Al is a high energy, high content, high impact speaker, lecturer, and motivational powerhouse. He serves on the Anti-Prejudice Consortium Board of Directors, American Intercontinental University School of Business Advisory Board, the Fulton County Workforce Investment Board of Directors, and the Fulton County Youth Council. He is also the former executive producer and host of The State of the Mind Address, a self-development television program.

Al’s expertise in the field of youth development & empowerment has been sought after by a long list of organizations and institutions including:

• U. S. Dept. Education
• Army Reserve Child, Youth, and School Services
• The National Guard
• Department of Juvenile Justice
• Job Corps
• The Ontario Ministry of Children & Youth Services
• Dekalb County Family & Children Services
• FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America)
• Georgia Adult Education Association
• University of Connecticut
• Johnson and Wales University
• Clark Atlanta University
• Spelman College
• Morehouse College
• Georgia Tech
• University of Georgia
• ...and many others.