MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW) – “I bet on myself and no one else.”

That quotation is a driving force behind Da’Vell Winters’ approach to life. The Marion native will have the chance to share his thoughts on a variety of subjects when he serves as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Peace and Freedom Committee’s MLK Breakfast set for Jan. 15, 2024, at the Palace Theatre’s May Pavilion, 278 W. Center St. in downtown Marion.

Winters, a 2007 alumnus of Marion Harding High School, was inducted into the 29th class of the Harding High athletic hall of fame in 2019. Following graduation from Harding, Winters continued his studies at Ashland University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management in 2011. He also studied at The Ohio State University and Conversa Spanish Language School, earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish as a Second Language.

Winters currently serves as head of player care for the Washington (D.C.) Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). He has served in that role since March 2023.

Prior to joining the Washington Spirit this year, Winters had served in a variety of roles for several major universities and professional sports franchises, including the University of Oregon, University of Pittsburgh, Boise State University, Florida Atlantic University, Wofford College, and the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.

At Oregon, Winters served as assistant to the director of football recruiting (2016-2017) and assistant director of player personnel and player development (2019-2021). He was the assistant director of player personnel at Pittsburgh (2017-2018). He served as chief of staff at Boise State (2021-2022) and director of player development at Florida Atlantic (2022-2023). At Wofford, he served as the defensive quality control and safeties coach (2015-2016). Winters served as a scouting intern for the Miami Dolphins (2018).

Tickets to the Peace and Freedom Committee’s MLK Breakfast cost $20 each and are available by following the link on the Peace and Freedom Committee Facebook page. Ticket information is also available by calling Dana Booker at 740-262-0355.

Deadline for contest submissions is Dec. 22

Area youth who want to participate in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ohio Oratorical/Art/Essay/Poetry Contest have until 4 p.m. on Dec. 22 to submit their projects. Projects can be turned in to Johnnie Jackson at the Marion City Schools District Service Center, 100 Executive Drive in Marion, or the Marion Public Library.

The speech finals will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2024, at the Marion Public Library, 445 E. Church St. in Marion. Participants need to register by 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 6.

For information, contact Tara Dyer at 740-751-8050.