Charles L. Alphin, Sr. served as a police officer for over twenty-six (26) years in the St. Louis City Police Department, St. Louis, Missouri. During his police career he served as patrol officer, detective, juvenile officer, sergeant, platoon lieutenant and captain. Serving in the rank of captain the last ten (10) years of his career he was: Commander of Homicide/Rape and Child Abuse; District Commander; and retired as Commander of Vice/Narcotics.

In 1992, after retirement from the St. Louis City Police Department, and at the request of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Captain Alphin and his wife moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to work at the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. He worked as a trainer in Kingian Nonviolence and in 1994 was promoted to Director of Education and Training for the King Center. In 1996 he retired from the King Center and joined LaFayette & Associates, continuing the Kingian Nonviolence training.  Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. served on the Executive Staff of Martin Luther King, Jr.  and trained Captain Alphin in the philosophy and methodology of Kingian Nonviolence in the late 1970’s. He has been privileged to train both nationally and internationally in Kingian Nonviolence.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Criminal Corrections from Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, Missouri. He is married to Joyce and they have two sons.

Charles L. Alphin, Jr. is President of Building Life Foundations Nonviolence Center with a BA in Business and Vice-President of DDK Historical & Educational Tours.

He has organized and conducted educational tours to Europe, West Africa and South Africa and serves as a board member of Gateway to Peace Museum.

He is a certified trainer in Kingian Nonviolence receiving his certification in 2001 after completing over 160 hours in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation. This training was under the supervision of Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., Distinguished Senior Scholar-in-Residence, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He has joined Dr. LaFayette, Jr. and others in teaching the philosophy nationally and in South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria, as an intervention and prevention method in psychological and physical violence.

He presently lives in O’Fallon Mo. and married to Michelle Alphin with two sons Austin and Kaylen.

Gerald Alphin raised in St. Louis Mo. enjoyed a 10 year Professional Football career as a wide receiver.  His career combined two pro leagues, the National Football League and the Canadian Football League.  The Canadian League Grey Cup Championship in 1995 with the Baltimore Stallions is easily the highlight of his career.  Retiring in 1995 Alphin obtained his real estate appraisers license and has worked and lived with his wife and sons in Atlanta GA.  

A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Gerald is also a Kansas State University Alumni. President and CEO of “Threads of Hope Nonviolence Foundation”, Gerald works to be an additional conduit of ‘Kingian Nonviolence’ focusing on youth and the life experiences / issues they face today. Gerald uses his sports platform to not only grab the attention of youth but teaches  Dr. King’s philosophy and methodology  with a sports slant making sure it’s relative to today’s  youth and situations.  

As a certified ‘Kingian Nonviolence’ trainer he has been fortunate to train educators, politicians, gang members and youth both nationally and internationally.  Training travel groups to Soweto, Durban, and Robben Island South Africa.  Gerald has assisted in training “Freedom Fighters” also in Nigeria.  

Married to wife Jeannette, they have three sons; Marquas, Devin and Dorian.

Bernard LaFayette, Jr. has been a Civil Rights Movement activist, minister, educator, lecturer, and is an authority on the strategy of nonviolent social change. He co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960. He was a leader of the Nashville Movement, 1960 and on the Freedom Rides, 1961 and the 1965 Selma Movement. He directed the Alabama Voter Registration Project in 1962, and was appointed National Program Administrator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and National Coordinator of the 1968 Poor Peoples’ Campaign by Martin Luther King, Jr.

An ordained minister, Dr. LaFayette earned a B.A. from American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, and his Ed.M., C.A.S. and Ed.D from Harvard University. His Publications include the Curriculum and Training Manual for the Martin Luther King Jr., Nonviolent Community Leadership Training Program; his doctoral thesis, Pedagogy for Peace and Nonviolence; and an article in the Duke University Review, Campus Ministries and Social Change in the 60’s; and The Leaders Manual: A Structured Guide and Introduction to Kingian Nonviolence with David Jehnsen. Dr. LaFayette has contributed to a number of publications and periodicals. Dr. LaFayette has traveled extensively to many countries as a lecturer and consultant on peace and nonviolence. 

Dr. LaFayette is a former President of the American Baptist College of ABT Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee; Scholar-in-Residence at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia appointed by Mrs. Coretta Scott King; and Pastor emeritus of the Progressive Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. LaFayette is a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Rhode Island Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, Kingston, R.I. and a present Distinguished Senior Scholar-in-Residence at Emory University and faculty at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Dr. LaFayette is married to the former Kate Bulls of Tuskegee, Alabama and has two sons, James and Bernard LaFayette, III.