About All Kings
We create diverse and intergenerational communities of men to support and empower men impacted by the criminal justice system and young men at risk of being impacted.
The Problem
America is experiencing a crisis of manhood.
With the decline of manufacturing in the twentieth century, many men lost the jobs that gave them purpose, connection, and structure.
At the same time, America saw a decline in community structures, especially for men. Civic association and other sites of community for men disappeared.
Our prison system, overflowing and leveraged for profit, is reinforcing the problem.
America has the highest incarceration rate in the world — 2.1 million people. Roughly 9 out of 10 people found guilty are men.
Trials and prisons traumatize men and fuel rage and shame. Upon release, men are often left to fend for themselves, stigmatized and alone, without connection and inspiration.
The impacts are incomprehensible.
Among all men under the age of 35, suicide is the second most common cause of death.
A system impacted young male can easily cost the state over $1,000,000 by the time he reaches the age of 40.
By that time he will have left a trail of hurt to his family and community. And the man is lost.
This has to change.
Our Solution
We believe the greatest challenge facing all men is a disconnection from himself and from others.
To address the wounds of isolation and oppression, we create communities of authentic men — a brotherhood of different ages, ethnicities, orientations, and economic backgrounds. Through weekend trainings, weekly circles, and peer mentorship, we work to inspire each other and grow, and build lives of integrity and purpose.
We show up for ourselves so that we can show up for others.
We partner with local reentry and community organizations to support and empower returning citizens. We offer men a supportive community, a place where all of him is welcome — all his pain, power, and possibility. As new men learn our skills, they become facilitators, then leaders of our circles and our communities. (Read the stories of some of our men.)
Our Model
Our work is holistic, relational, and peer-led.
In our circles every man is an equal participant. Together, we learn techniques of empowerment and healing, processes that draw on contemporary advancements in transformative justice, somatic awareness, and rites of passage experiences.
We believe the criminal justice system tries to falsely separate and discriminate us from each other. We reject this and welcome every man equally, regardless of age, race, class, sexual orientation, or past choices.
Some of us have lived experience with the criminal justice system. Some of us do not. All of us have medicine to bring.
Specifically, our methodology is based on the following five concepts:
Community
We believe we are interdependent and that we can only heal together. For-profit and professionalized models can not replace authentic human relationships.
Body
We believe trauma lives in the body, and in feeling, and that healing happens through physical and emotional work.
Story
We help men understand their pasts and recreate stories of empowerment, to relate to themselves and others in a more healthy way.
Acceptance
We don’t prescribe solutions. We create environments that support individuals in their own growth.
Equality
We seek partnership over power. Every man involved in our project has come to heal, and so every man is a healer.
Our Values
Diversity & Inclusion
We commit to honoring visible and invisible differences in our work, so that each man may bring his unique gifts. We are committed to fighting against racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and agism.
Evolving Masculinities
There is no single definition of masculinity, and no best form. Each man is responsible for uncovering and defining the masculinity that serves him best.
Being & Becoming
We accept that we are all flawed and in process. We try to stay mindful of where we are and where we are going.
Honoring Every Gender
We believe in the unique power and force of all genders and commit to celebrating, empowering, and supporting them.