Ketric Newell
Empowering Students to Break Free From Labels & Live With Hope
4.97

Audiences Include:
Adult, Educators & Staff Speakers, Fundraising Event Speakers, Grade 6-8 Students, Grade 9-12 Students, Student, Youth Services Speakers
Topics Include:
Conference Keynote Speakers, Inspirational Speakers, School Assembly Speakers, Workshop Facilitators
Typical Fee: $3K-$5K
- Founder of the Teen Dream Center, Serving At-Risk Youth
- 20+ Years Working in the Trenches With Under-Resourced Students
- Profoundly Wise & Deeply Impactful for Both Students and Staff
Ketric Newell is a dynamic and deeply relatable speaker who helps students and staff break free from limiting labels and embrace a future rooted in hope.
Ketric Newell is a dynamic and deeply relatable speaker who helps students and staff break free from limiting labels and embrace a future rooted in hope.
With more than 20 years of experience working in the trenches with under-resourced and at-risk youth, Ketric brings a rare mix of high energy, grounded wisdom, and deep relatability. He served for several years as a youth pastor at Life.Church, one of the largest and most influential churches in the country, and is the founder of the Teen Dream Center based in Nashville—a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring teens affected by poverty, trauma, and instability. His message doesn’t come from theory. It comes from lived experience.
Ketric’s signature strength lies in his ability to create safe, empowering environments where students feel seen, heard, and challenged to grow. He combines storytelling, humor, and practical insight to help students let go of shame, reframe their identity, and lead themselves well, regardless of what they’ve been through.
School leaders and educators consistently praise Ketric for his ability to connect across diverse audiences and deliver lasting impact. Whether he’s speaking in an all-school assembly, a professional development session, or a community-wide event, Ketric brings contagious passion and a message that resonates long after the event ends.
*While Ketric is a man of faith, he fully respects public school guidelines and never includes faith-based content unless it’s specifically requested.
Speaking Topics
Ketric will customize any presentation to align with your event goals.
In a world full of expectations, labels, and pressures, it’s easy to lose sight of who we really are. Who Told You That? is an empowering keynote designed to help students recognize and break free from the false narratives that limit their potential. This talk will challenge the negative voices that shape our identity and inspire students to embrace their true selves with confidence, courage, and clarity.
Through real-life stories, humor, and thought-provoking insights, this keynote will equip students with practical tools to silence self-doubt, build resilience, and create a future defined by their authentic values—not by the lies they’ve been told.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and challenge limiting beliefs that have been shaped by external influences such as media, peers, and societal expectations.
- Develop self-awareness to recognize when negative self-talk is holding them back.
- Build confidence by replacing false narratives with empowering truths about themselves.
- Cultivate resilience to overcome challenges and stay true to their authentic identity.
- Learn practical strategies to maintain a positive mindset and pursue personal growth with clarity and purpose.
Ketric's heart really showed through to both the students and the staff members. I appreciate his ability to touch the kids' lives through his own experiences.
Northland Christian Trailblazers • Grade 6-12 Students

We’re all susceptible to Satan’s deceptions, but the lies we buy into at a young age may have a destructive impact on the rest of our lives. The Enemy wants students to acknowledge a lie, believe it, and act on it until it becomes their truth and they’re imprisoned by it.
Pastor Ketric Newell has met a lot of students who struggle with serious lies about addictions, self-injury, and body image, all of which keep them trapped. But Jesus came to set the captives free. This message shows students where deceptions come from, how to recognize them, and what it’s like to live in the freedom available through Christ.
Learning Outcomes:
- Lies That Bind, Truth That Frees: An understanding of how Satan works to deceive and trap people, particularly when they are young.
- Identify five common lies that people believe about themselves, their worth, and their relationships with others.
- Learn how these lies can lead to destructive behaviors and habits.
- Gain an understanding of how relying on God’s truth can help them break free from the lies that have been holding them back.
- Encouraged to seek support and help from others, including pastors, mentors, and other trusted individuals
- Gain a sense of hope and empowerment as they learn that they have the ability to choose what they believe and how they act, regardless of their past experiences.
Ketric was a great speaker, and he delivered a clear message in a relatable way for our students. We loved having him here.
North Canton Chapel • Grade 6-12 Students

Pastor Ketric Newell has dedicated his life to helping inner-city youth break free from the lies of their past and fully embrace the life that God has for them. In this inspiring and practical message, he shares his personal story of how God called him to build and pastor a ministry for youth and how he has seen the power of spiritual advocacy in the lives of countless young people.
As adults, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to invest in the next generation and help them find their purpose and identity in Christ. Pastor Ketric will show you how to be a spiritual advocate for the young people in your life and how to help them encounter the radical and powerful love of Jesus, experience His truth and grace, and learn to hear His guidance for their lives.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn the power of spiritual advocacy and how it can impact the lives of young people.
- Understand this generation’s unique challenges and how to help them find hope and purpose.
- Gain practical tips and strategies for helping young people find their identity and purpose in Christ.
- Discover the importance of listening to young people and understanding their perspectives.
- Learn how to encourage young people to pursue their passions and talents.
- Understand the importance of building relationships with young people and creating a safe and supportive environment.
- Gain a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to invest in the next generation and help them reach their full potential.
Ketric is amazing! Comes to serve and encourage the whole team!
North Central Kansas Teens for Christ • Youth Services

Decision-Maker Reviews
What other clients say about booking Ketric.
4.97
57 bookings
•
I greatly appreciate the message as well as the energy Ketric Newell brought to our students. He adapted very well to the crowd with minute details to reengage and keep students on task. Thank you for your role in bringing our students a message to believe in themselves and to hold onto the people who will help push them forward. You are greatly appreciated, Ketric!
GEAR UP, Alabama State University • Grade 6-12 Students

Our program was recently funded, and for our very first weekend event, we wanted to create something uplifting, exciting, and truly memorable. Ketric Newell was exactly what we needed. He connected effortlessly with our students—he was engaging, inspiring, and so much fun! The students enjoyed every minute of it. We loved working with him and hope to welcome him back again soon!
Haysville GEAR UP • Grade 6-12 Students

Ketric’s valuable experience as a youth pastor shines through… Get ready for a good time as you learn God’s way to break free from the lies that hold you captive.
Life.Church • Faith-Based Event

Audience-Member Reviews
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Upcoming Events
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Event Materials
Everything You Need to Host Ketric
Books by Ketric Newell
Expand the impact of Ketric's message
Liar, Liar, Mullet on Fire
Extinguishing Lies We Believe with God's Truth
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