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 an Army veteran, author, and founder of Young Kings Rising — a mentorship program serving young Black males ages 15–25 in the Charlotte-Metro area. He brings real-world experience as a father of three, real estate investor, and community leader to every session. His book, Heroes: Your Community Awaits, serves as the backbone of the YKR curriculum.
Darren does not deliver feel-good speeches. He delivers structured, honest conversations built around discipline, direction, and legacy — the things young men actually need.
Session Structure
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
Results
Young men leave with a clearer sense of identity and personal responsibility. Staff regularly report improved engagement in the days following a session. The workbook format gives participants something to return to — it's not a one-time experience.
Programs that run multiple sessions see measurable shifts in how young men talk about their future and the people they want to become. The goal is never to inspire and disappear. It's to give young men a framework they can use.
"Darren has a gift for reaching young men where they are. He doesn't talk at them — he talks with them. Our participants were engaged from the first minute." — Program Coordinator, Charlotte-Metro Area
First 3 sessions are complimentary for schools and programs in the Charlotte-Metro area. No budget required to get started. Reach out and we'll talk through what makes sense for your group.