Building A Better Future for Young Kings

As a teenager who had just moved to CO, I felt lost and alone. I didn't know who I was, what my purpose is, or even what I truly wanted out of life. That all changed after my first boys2MEN Leadership Summit with the Crowley Foundation. 10 years later, I find myself on the other side of that lost 15-year-old. 

I started working with the Crowley Foundation as a Young King at a Fall Workshop in 2014. The workshops and   Leadership Summit gave me not only a sense of community, but more accountability and action towards becoming a better leader. My third year at the Leadership Summit led me to training for a role as an Ambassador for TCF. I took more responsibility in spreading the word about the programming that had such a great impact on me with friends and a lot of those same friends still support the work that’s done. In my sixth year I was offered the opportunity to become the first ever Mentor who transitioned through the program. I was trained on facilitation, mentoring, and even how to handle crises that Young Kings may present to me. Since, I’ve been able to see and feel the impact that I’ve been able to pay forward to my community.

The Crowley Foundation is putting in the work to make sure these Young Kings are seen, heard, understood, and given a way to see much more of a future. Not only is TCF keeping boys out of trouble and away from illegal substances, but they're also mentoring them so they understand:

• Their mental health matters, and methods like WRAP or meditation help to remain calm in times of crisis,
• Their support system is constantly growing and can developed so that they can make the most of their relationships,
• Their lives and destinies are theirs to control and work towards,
• And that the political climate does not dictate their purpose or worth, but what they create for themselves does.

This year, the Crowley Foundation is raising $20,000 before the year ends to support programming and the organization's sustainability through the creation of an endowment. We could use your support in making sure we are able to continue offering our leadership summits, fall workshops, career workshops, and relationship series.