Young Kings Rising
Developing Healthy Young Men
Young Kings Rising develops healthy men by strengthening character, leadership, families, and communities.
Development happens through trusted relationships, mentorship, meaningful experiences, leadership opportunities, reflection, challenge, practice, and community.
About Young Kings Rising
Who we are — and who these young men are becoming
Young Kings Rising is the flagship implementation organization of Council Enterprise — showing what developing healthy young men looks like in practice through relationships, experiences, and leadership.
Our Mission
Young Kings Rising develops healthy men by strengthening character, leadership, families, and communities.
Who They Are Becoming
Young men growing in responsibility, identity, emotional maturity, purpose, and service — prepared to lead in their families, communities, and futures.
Who We Serve
Young Kings Rising primarily serves young men ages 15–25, with a particular commitment to young Black men and young men who benefit from intentional mentorship, leadership development, brotherhood, and opportunities to grow.
Developmental Themes
How Development Happens
What developing healthy young men looks like in practice
Young men do not become healthy men through a single speech or slogan. Growth is formed over time through people, practice, and purpose.
- Trusted relationships with adults who expect more and walk with them
- Mentorship that strengthens identity, accountability, and brotherhood
- Meaningful experiences that stretch character and leadership
- Reflection and honest questions about who they are becoming
- Challenge and practice — not applause without responsibility
- Community contexts: family, school, faith, and civic life
Get Involved
Same mission. The right next step for you.
Whether you are a young man, a parent, a mentor, an organization, or a supporter — choose the path that fits.
Young Men
Learn what Young Kings Rising is and how you can participate in developmental experiences that build character, leadership, and purpose.
Take Your Next StepParents & Families
Understand our developmental approach and opportunities that can support your young man’s growth in responsibility and leadership.
Explore Young Kings RisingMentors & Volunteers
Walk alongside young men as they grow in character, leadership, and responsibility. Your presence and consistency matter.
Become a MentorOrganizations
Schools, churches, nonprofits, juvenile justice partners, and community organizations — bring structured developmental experiences to the young men you serve.
Partner With UsSupporters
Fuel programs, resources, and developmental experiences that help young men grow into healthy men.
Invest in the MissionPrograms
Developmental experiences where young men already gather
Young Kings Rising brings structured sessions, workshops, and multi-session series to schools, community organizations, faith communities, and justice-involved settings — with dignity, high expectation, and clear purpose.
Schools & Youth Organizations
Assemblies, workshops, and series aligned with character education and leadership development.
Community & Faith Partners
Partnerships that strengthen what families and communities are already building — welcoming, non-coercive, and clear about our mission.
Justice & Residential Settings
Consistent developmental series for young men in juvenile justice and residential contexts — focused on identity, accountability, and leadership.
Young Kings Rising is preparing a 10-week leadership experience in partnership with Cabarrus County Juvenile Services.
Council Enterprise
How Young Kings Rising Fits
Young Kings Rising is the flagship implementation organization for Council Enterprise’s work developing healthy men.
Council Enterprise
The parent institutional platform — built to develop people, strengthen families, and create institutions that last.
Healthy Man Blueprint
An emerging developmental framework being created by Council Enterprise to better understand how healthy men are formed through character, identity, emotional maturity, relationships, leadership, stewardship and meaningful experiences.
Build Leaders
Darren Council’s leadership platform for speaking, writing, frameworks, and teaching — at darrencouncil.com.
& Leader
Founder
Darren L. Council Sr.
Darren L. Council Sr. is a U.S. Army veteran, author, founder of Council Enterprise and Young Kings Rising, and builder of the Healthy Man Blueprint — an emerging developmental framework of Council Enterprise.
He leads Young Kings Rising as Council Enterprise’s flagship implementation organization for developing healthy men. Speaking and writing remain part of the work; they do not define the whole organization.
Resources
Tools that support the work
Your Community
Awaits
A resource for young men ready to grow.
Heroes: Your Community Awaits is an interactive workbook that supports YKR developmental experiences. It invites young men to take honest inventory, take responsibility, and show up in their families, schools, and communities.
Written for ages 15–25. Available on Amazon.
FREE RESOURCE
5 Things Every Young King Needs to Know Before 25
Request this free guide — built from principles that shape Young Kings Rising. We’ll follow up by email.
No spam. By submitting, you agree we may email you about this request.
Stories & Media
Hear the work taking shape
Purpose, discipline, and the next generation
In this conversation, Darren Council shares the journey behind Young Kings Rising — military service, mentorship, and why discipline and direction matter for young men becoming healthy men.
More stories of young men in practice will be added as approved content becomes available.
Watch on YouTube →Speaking & Events
A capability that supports the mission
Speaking engagements are one way Young Kings Rising reaches young men and the adults who serve them. They are a component of the work — not the whole organization.
- Identity & Self-Worth — Knowing who you are before the world tells you
- Discipline as Freedom — Building systems that create opportunity
- Legacy Over Clout — What you are building, and for whom
- From Surviving to Leading — Choosing responsibility and direction
- Mentorship & Brotherhood — Growing with others who expect more
- Purpose & Direction — Finding your lane and running in it
Invite Young Kings Rising
Available for schools, community programs, churches, corporate events, and youth conferences across NC and beyond.
youngkingsrisingnc@gmail.com
Support the Mission
Invest in the Mission
Young Kings Rising is a mission-driven organization developing healthy young men through character, leadership, relationships, and meaningful experiences. Contact us for current partnership and giving information.
When you support YKR, you invest in developmental experiences that help young men grow in responsibility, identity, emotional maturity, purpose, and service.
Invest in the MissionFinancial Support
Fund programs, resources, and outreach. Contact us for current giving information.
Book Placement
Help place Heroes: Your Community Awaits with young men participating in developmental experiences.
Volunteer
Mentor, assist with events, or offer skills that strengthen the work.
Spread the Word
Share the mission with schools, churches, families, and community partners.
Contact
Let’s start the right conversation
Tell us how you want to engage.
Whether you are a young man taking a next step, a parent exploring YKR, a mentor, a partner organization, or a supporter — reach out and we will respond promptly.