Kendrick Dial, MSW

Kendrick Dial is a native of Dallas, Texas but after 9 years of service in the United States Navy, he decided to make San Diego his home. He attended SDSU where he received his BA in Africana Studies/Psychology in 2010. In 2013, he graduated from USC with his MSW. Although he started out in the Navy as a Radar Technician he quickly realized he preferred to work with people and switched programs to become a Substance Abuse Counselor during his last three years in the Navy. This role inspired him to become a mentor for homeless and runaway youth with San Diego Youth Services.

He also served in the foster care program of SDYS recruiting and training mentors for foster care youth. In April 2014, he began working with the National Conflict Resolution Center as a consultant/trainer. This also initiated his involvement in the realm of Restorative Justice where he subsequently became a facilitator for NCRC’s Restorative Circle Conferences in City Heights and a facilitator of the Restorative Justice Mediation Program’s victim/offender dialogue conferences. He is also an adjunct at City College EOPS dept. and teaches a Personal Growth class.

Kendrick Dial has cultivated his role as an artist for over 12 years. He is currently 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. He recently released a full LP entitled SPOKEN SOUL: Music for Life (2015) with his band, The Lyrical Groove. He published a book of poetry entitled Da J.O.Y.N.T. (2006). He has worked with the poetic collective, Collective Purpose for hover 10 years hosting Southern California’s highest attended open mic, ELEVATED. He has collaborated with number artist and art’s base organizations such as BkSoul, Transcendance and Eveoke Dance companies, and Mo’olelo Theatre company to perform and produce shows that inspired, challenged, educated and entertained the community. He has also done voiceover work for nationally recognized commercial campaigns for National University, the YMCA and toy companies.

Mr. Dial strives for the best of both worlds. He is an advocate for music, just as much as he is an advocate for disenfranchised populations who struggle to have a voice. Throughout his work as an artist, he has conducted workshops at elementary, middle and high schools, supporting youth to find their voice through poetry and performance arts. Mr. Dial has also been recognized for his work as an artist and advocate in the community with awards such as the Urban League’s Leaders under 40 in 2006 and a San Diego Prestige Award in 2012.