Speaker & Program Resource — For Program Directors & Administrators
School counselors, principals, nonprofit program directors, juvenile justice coordinators,
faith leaders, and youth development professionals
About Darren Council
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. Young Kings Rising primarily serves young men ages 15–25. His book, Heroes: Your Community Awaits, supports YKR developmental experiences.
Speaking is one capability within Young Kings Rising. Sessions are structured, honest conversations built around discipline, direction, and legacy — supporting young men as they grow in responsibility and leadership.
Session Structure
This sample agenda is an illustrative example, not a standard requirement. Session length is agreed with each partner.
Darren establishes the tone — no lectures, no judgment. Young men hear from someone who's been where they are. Ice-breaker activity to get participants comfortable.
The central framework: identity, responsibility, and what it means to show up. Direct conversation, not a speech. Participants engage, respond, and challenge.
Participants work through 1–2 exercises from the Heroes workbook. Prompts around purpose, community, and the man they want to become. Can be done individually or in pairs.
Participants lead. Darren responds. This is often where the real breakthroughs happen — young men asking questions they wouldn't ask anyone else.
Commitment exercise. Participants identify one thing they'll do differently. Contact info and resources shared for ongoing support.
Logistics
Options
YKR offers speaking engagements, interactive workshops, and multi-session leadership experiences. Session length, frequency, and series duration are agreed with each partner based on the young men served and the setting.
A confirmed 10-week leadership format with Cabarrus County Juvenile Services is in preparation; scheduling and coordination are still pending.
Purpose of the Session
Sessions focus on character, identity, responsibility, and purpose through direct conversation and practical exercises. The workbook format gives participants something to return to after a single session.
The goal is not entertainment. It is to create a developmental experience that helps young men grow in responsibility, identity, emotional maturity, purpose and service.
Reach out and we’ll talk through what makes sense for your organization, schedule, and young men.