Reggie Dabbs

Reggie Dabbs, an international youth motivational speaker, will be presenting his message at 15 different local schools this week.

Dabbs has been a motivational speaker at youth events and schools worldwide for more than 30 years. He was in the area six or seven years ago to do a speaking tour and has returned again this year to speak to 15 more schools today through Friday.

On Wednesday, Dabbs will be visiting Fenner Elementary School, Falconer Middle School, Randolph Elementary School, Salamanca High School and Cattaraugus-Little Valley School. On Thursday he will be speaking to both middle school and high school students in Brocton and the seventh and eighth grade students in Dunkirk, along with the Cassadaga Job Corps. And on Friday he will be visiting Panama, Southwestern, Maple Grove and Bemus Point Elementary School.

Dabbs speaks to these schools, telling the story of his life and with a message of hope.

“His message is one of hope and of character formation issues,” said the Rev. Dan Soderberg, executive director of IMPACT campus fellowship and Dabb’s local representative. “While IMPACT is faith based, his assemblies are not about faith. They focus on his background and his story. Students are glued to him. He’s a very powerful speaker.”

Dabbs speaks at about 300 to 400 school assemblies every year.

At these assemblies Dabbs tells his story of being born to an unwed teenager who ended up living in a chicken coop before she remembered a teacher who offered to help her out when needed. This teacher, Mrs. Dabbs, ended up fostering and later adopting Dabbs with her husband, and together they raised him with strong moral values and with the idea that he always had a choice.

In a promotional video on his website Dabbs said that his job is to reach the kids that he speaks to and to help those who might be in a dark place.

“My job is to let these kids know that tomorrow holds the answer to the problem they are facing today,” Dabbs said. “My job is to love your kids just the way they are.”

Dabbs overall message of hope for the kids that he talks to is to tell them to not give up and that they can make it through, even when it seems impossible.

Soderberg said Dabbs’ message is one that let’s kids know that even in the darkness things will turn out OK.

“His message is that you are made for a purpose,” Soderberg said. “There is great hope in this world, even when it doesn’t seem like it. The power of love is greater than the power of darkness.”

Dabbs may return to the area again, but if he does it will not be for at least five years, Soderberg said.

In his video and his presentations, Dabbs focuses on speaking to the kids who need it the most.

“Some of you want to quit,” Dabbs said. “Some of you wish you could die. Not today. Not on my watch.”