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Curtis E. Blackwell, II is president and co-founder of the Sound Mind Sound Mind Body foundation. As a lifelong resident of the Eastside of Detroit, Curtis has a passion for youth development and athletics. at Osborn High School and went on to play football at and graduate from Detroit’s Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. ultimately Decided to attend Hampton University and earned a degree in Sports management. Curtis then earned the prestigious honor of being selected for a fellowship with the American Football coaches association to work in sports administration and also attend Baylor University graduate school where he would earn a master’s degree in sports administration. Curtis was 1 of 12 students selected to work at the “NCAA Minority leadership program helping to plan special events like the NCAA final four.

In 2003, Curtis returned home to Detroit to devote his time and passion to youth development in his local community. In 2004, he co-founded the Lifting As We Climb Foundation and would eventually launch the Sound Mind Sound Body Academy in 2005. To date the SMSB academy has worked with over 20,0000 students worldwide with over 5,000 students earning college scholarships. Over 30 students mentored by Curtis that have participated in the SMSB academy have gone on to become NFL draft picks. Curtis has used his knowledge, talents and passion for youth as a football coach at his alma mater- King High school and in leadership positions at the NCAA, NFL , Detroit Police Athletic League and at Michigan State University as the Director of College Advancement and Performance. While at Michigan State, Curtis was a part of a historic coaching staff that won two Big ten championships in three years and was ranked in the nation’s top ten 3 years in a row. Currently he is operating the SMSB foundation where over 5,000 students in the Metro Detroit participate in the organization’s college readiness after school mentoring program.

Curtis was the first African American Male president of the Harper Woods School board. He was selected by Omega Psi Phi as the civic leader of the year in 2015. Curtis is married to Kiandra Blackwell and the proud father of Sanyiah, Curtis III and Eliana Blackwell.