Today we’d like to introduce you to Royle King II. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Omega Lamplighters, Incorporated( #OLL) is a 501c3 youth leadership organization for young men in grades Fourth through Twelfth founded in 2008 by Royle King II. Tuesday, September 15, 2008, Omega Lamplighters was founded by Royle King II in Tallahassee, FL. The program was the brainchild of King II who participated in two mentoring programs in his high school years. The Omega Sparks program was created by the Theta Alpha Foundation (Dallas, TX) and the Dallas Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists Urban Journalism Boot Camp, a member chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. From this experience, King II said he would later create something that was as impactful in his life but with a twist and inclusion of fun and things he wanted to do more of as a teen mixed with the additional things he knew he needed as an African American male in America. The program was piloted with 12 young men from the Big Bend area. Six from Wakulla H.S., two from Godby H.S., two from Lincoln H.S., one from Florida H.S., and one from Leon H.S. Simeon Nelson was appointed as the program’s first Director. The first three and a half years set the foundation for the program and the formal in-duction process was birthed from these experiences leading to the first class of Omega Lamplighters. Sunday, February 15, 2012, the first official class, “Optimus 20”, of Omega Lamplighters was inducted into the program. During this time, the official logo, colors, and shield design was adopted. The Big Bend Area (Florida) chapters include Leon (Tallahassee), Wakulla, Gadsden, and Jefferson County.
Principles: Leadership, Academics, Maturity & Perseverance
The Mission: “To empower secondary-aged youth with academic and social skills, community connections, and progressive opportunities necessary to ensure their roles as active, educated, and responsible citizens.”
VISION: We strongly believe in actively developing these gentlemen through teaching transferable life skills, providing career exploration opportunities and leveraging community resources. By enriching them as individuals, we will transform them into both socially conscious and fiscally sound gentlemen who serve their communities.
Program Colors: Purple & Silver
Alternate Colors: Black, White & Green
Nickname: Light Team (#OLL)
Motto: “Together We’ll Do The Impossible” “It Takes A Village”
Aim: Turn good young men into GREAT young men!
We are where we are today on the shoulders of King. He took an idea and has dedicated his life to what it’s grown into around the Country.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. King learned mostly everything through the process so in the beginning he failed several times and took years to create what is in place today. Struggling with taking time from loved ones, friends and passions to pour into the lives of others, struggling with the idea that people may not understand how much was really being sacrificed. It takes a mental and physical toll to be a mentor so sometimes carrying on the emotions of the youth and their families, their struggles become yours in addition to your own. People trying to limit or control the vision placed in your heart. People see today this amazing program but 10 years ago it was nothing like it is, it was a rough road of failing and messing up to create something that’s become largely impactful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Omega Lamplighters offer a beacon of hope for our community during a time when so much hope is needed. Known for our award-winning national step team, The Light Team, turning young men into kings, Weekly Mentoring Groups, Weekly Tutoring and Study Hall, Weekly Arts programs (STEM, Step, Dance, and Music), Biweekly Gaming Club Meetings, Twice A Month Life Skills, and Educational Workshops, SAT/ACT Prep.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Parents, Royle and Mary King Sr., Mentor Cheryl Smith, the team of superheroes we’ve assembled who also believe in the work we do. King Sr and Smith inspired the desire to want to help and give back because of the profound impact they had.
Contact Info:
- Email: DaVillage@OmegaLamplighters.org
- Website: https://www.omegalamplighters.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamplighters850/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmegaLamplighters
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lamplighters850
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OmegaLamplighters
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lamplighters850
