The Power of a Men Awards 2025
Community Champion 2025
Celebrating men of colour and their achievements.
Read through the amazing contributions made by each and every one of our worthy nominees this year. Then, all you need to do is vote for the man that you think should be the recipient of this year’s award.
VOTING HAS NOW ENDED
Your 2025 Community Champion Nominees are…
Craig Pinkney
Craig Pinkney is a nationally and internationally recognised Criminologist and Urban Youth Specialist, best known for his deep commitment to addressing serious youth violence, gang culture, and social conflict. With over two decades of frontline experience, Craig has become one of the UK’s most trusted and influential voices in this field, blending academic insight with real-world application.
He is the CEO of SOLVE: The Centre for Youth Violence and Conflict CIC and SOLVE Housing Ltd – a provider of Ofsted-registered children’s homes based in the West Midlands. Through these organisations, Craig provides both strategic leadership and operational guidance, delivering impactful interventions, training, and consultancy to professionals and organisations across education, criminal justice, social care, and youth sectors.
Craig’s career began in outreach and youth work, mentoring high-risk and hard-to-reach young people. Over time, his expertise evolved to encompass national policy, service transformation, and system-wide safeguarding approaches. His work now spans programme design, multi-agency training, and critical research on issues such as trauma, masculinity, and desistance among Black men. His practical, no-nonsense approach has earned him the respect of grassroots communities and senior policymakers alike.
On being a black man...
Faron Paul
Faron Paul is a London-born anti-knife crime campaigner who turned personal survival into a national movement for change. Stabbed eighteen times across two separate attacks that left him in a coma and required years of rehabilitation, Faron chose not to seek revenge, but to rewrite the story for those coming after him. In 2018, he founded FazAmnesty — a service that enables young people to hand over knives and other weapons no questions asked, which he then personally delivers — safely and anonymously — to police stations. What began with a single social media post has grown into a 24/7 collection network that has now removed more than 8,310 weapons from UK streets.
His credibility is hard-won: the scars on his neck and torso are the first slide in every workshop he delivers. Faron now works in partnership with schools, youth clubs and local authorities across London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, using lived experience to challenge the glamorisation of knives and provide positive exit routes for at-risk youth. Celebrity allies — including Idris Elba — have joined him on late-night “weapon runs”, amplifying his message to millions online.
On being a black man...
Jaja Soze
Jaja Soze, real name Elijah kerr, is a key figure when it comes to the foundation and growth of the U.K underground music culture and lifestyle scene.
Over the years Jaja has built a large catalogue of music, documentaries and interviews, whilst gaining an incredible reputation and fanbase amongst international audiences. Jaja was part of one of the biggest and controversial Lifestyle & Music movements to come out of London called the ‘PDC’.
Jaja story has inspired many, and motivates people to this day. Jaja has been featured on BBC, Sky one, Channel 4, BBC Radio 1, and many more. His inspirational Story has been told in the book “Street Boys” by Tim Pritchard and published by Harper Collins. As well as the ‘Power of Love” written and self published by Jaja Soze. Jaja also owns the music recording studio & development & distribution Brand, BRIXTON RECORDING STUDIOS.
Jaja is the creative director for the popular INDIGO YOUTH Mentoring services, as well as the FOUNDER of the Creative Platform called POETRY LUV. Jajas work over the years has inspired thousands of people and he has helped build many careers in and out of his community.
On being a black man...
Stephen Hall
My name is Stephen Hall and I am a retired Capacity Manager having worked for British Telecom for 33 years. During my time there, my main responsibility was forecasting, project management and investing into the network. I recently retired, which gave me the time to fully commit to and focus on the things I wanted to do, such as my work as a foster carer and making a difference to a young person’s life. I came from very humble beginnings and relocated from Jamaica to the UK alone at the age of 21 to create a better life for myself. I wanted to help those young people who have been separated from their families and follow in my late mother’s footsteps as she voluntarily looked after young people less fortunate than us.
I have been fostering for over 23 years, and one of a few men who is the lead carer, which enabled me to be at the forefront of the foster child’s life. I have fostered many young people all with complex backgrounds and behavioural needs. Throughout my time foster caring, I have worked closely with Special Educational Needs and Pupil Referral Units. In particular, I worked with a young person dealing with their sexuality, who wanted to end their life. Being able to quickly understand what support is needed and being proactive, helped get this young person to move forward. My mentoring also helped a young man who was a boy soldier from a war zone, to get to grips with life in England. I made a difference in his life by being supportive, understanding and caring to go that extra mile.
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On being a black man...
“For me, being a black man in today’s society is knowing that I can make a difference as I am intelligent, positive, successful and determined that the next generation can be inspired to be the best they can be. I am passing these values down to the next generation as it is very important to me that all children get the best out of the education system and by showing them that they can make a positive contribution to society. I am proud of where I am today, having built a successful career and home and more importantly, I been able to share it with those young people who need it. “
Marcus Luther
Marcus Luther is a passionate boxing coach, community leader, and familiar face on Channel 4’s Gogglebox. With over 20 years of experience, he has built a powerful reputation as someone who uses the discipline of boxing to transform lives — especially those of young people from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds.
As the founder of TM Boxing Gym in South London, Marcus has created more than a space to train — he has built a home where children, teenagers, and families feel seen, supported, and empowered. Week after week, he welcomes groups of young people who have been excluded from mainstream schools, offering them structure, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Many of these young people had been written off by society — but under Marcus’s care and guidance, they are thriving, developing not just their boxing skills, but their confidence, respect, and self-worth.
Marcus also works with children with disabilities, helping them build physical strength, balance, and mental resilience through tailored boxing sessions. His inclusive and deeply compassionate approach has had a lasting impact, proving that boxing is not just about fighting — it’s about empowerment, connection, and healing.
On being a black man...
Now Visit The Nominees In These 2025 Awards Categories
Don't miss The Exciting Awards Ceremony & After-Party
9th March 2025, London
You’ve voted for your favourite nominee, now show your support and secure your place at this gala Awards night, celebrating women of colour and their achievements.