Young Kings and Queens (YKQ) is an organization dedicated to the empowerment and inspiration of minority youth to live beyond the scopes of societal norms. The organization's vision is to remain a sustainable youth development organization that provides a legacy of community-based activities, programming and support which allows youth to develop into their best selves. YKQ achieves their mission by participating in events that expose the youth to new cultural experiences and create broader understandings. In doing so, YKQ promotes positive behavior, educational development and community involvement.
As an out-of-school time (OST) program, YKQ offers tutoring virtually through their app as well as in-person. They participate in community service events and offer educational life skills clinics during the school year to maintain engagement. During the summer, YKQ offers the R.O.Y.A.L. (Raising Our Youths Awareness of Life) 10-week program which teaches participants about finances, business ownership and basic life skills such as changing tires and household maintenance. R.O.Y.A.L. helps participants with identity development and planning for their future.
Other program events include an annual Masquerade Ball fundraiser in March, a
Back-To-School Jam in August (where the community can access food and book bags for teens). In December, YKQ hosts a Blessings of Hope for the Holidays giveaway, where household goods are distributed.
The organization looks to change the future for Young Kings and Queens within our community with the development of a mixed-use property within the Northside Business District of Kalamazoo. This facility will house independent living quarters for youth who graduate from phase 1 of their BRIDGES housing and financial literacy program. This program requires that participants actively apply learned financial literacy skills to save 3 months of living expenses. They are seeking donors who will help them meet their goal of getting this project up and running, so that youth and community will have access to this much needed space. The YKQ organization wants you to know that support at all levels is valued.
Note To Our Donor Advisors:
You’ve already shown your love for this community by creating an Advised Fund at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Through Partners in Philanthropy, we offer you an opportunity to demonstrate that love again by supporting one or more of the projects highlighted with a grant suggestion from the fund you established. The programs shared in this publication are among the recent funding requests we’ve received from local nonprofit organizations.
To support this program, download the grant suggestion form and select Young Kings and Queens or make a grant suggestion using Kalamazoo Connect at https://connect.kalfound.org.
