It is often assumed that academically prosperous students are already equipped with the necessary tools to foster their matriculation to higher education; unfortunately, the opposite is true for many high-performing youths residing in poor communities. According to the Wallace Foundation, only “twenty-nine percent of high-achieving, low-income students will obtain a college degree.” Even still, it is rare to find youth who are both stars in the classroom, as well as civically-minded and -engaged. These two components often lead to adulthood that is productive and positively contributive to society as a whole. Through Pharaohs & Kings, Growing Kings is challenging the status quo by empowering well-rounded male high school students to be the leaders needed in their schools, throughout their communities, and within their families.

Pharaohs & Kings is designed to support twelve well-rounded male high school seniors each year in community- and youth-centered programming that promotes civic engagement, cultural exploration, and entrepreneurship. The students are selected through a vetting process involving Growing Kings staff and each high school’s teachers and administrators. An emphasis is placed on high academically-achieving students; however, prior involvement in extracurricular activities and community service, and/or the expressed desire for future contributions in those areas, is factored into the selection of participants. Preference is given to students who have participated in Growing Kings’ in-school mentoring program, Journey of a King, as these students would intrinsically embody the ideals and attitudes that Growing Kings seeks to impart upon the boys and young men of color involved in the Pharaohs & Kings program.