At just 22 years old, a Marine veteran raises boys from troubled homes, helping them become healthy, strong adults.
He also runs a program called “The X For Boys,” which aims to provide a positive influence and important life skills for Black youth.
“Making men great again” is the organization’s mission, and it’s doing a phenomenal job so far.
The young man and military veteran from Georgia started the organization when he was nineteen. He noticed the rising crime in his community of Albany, Georgia, and wanted to help kids find a different path. Many of the young men he talked to said they wanted to better their lives but didn’t know where to start. So, King Randall stepped in to become a positive mentor for them.
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He’s even taken temporary custody of several children, raising boys when they had nowhere to turn. He said that, sadly, many of the boys had come from very difficult or traumatic backgrounds. Some boys were sexually abused, starved, or neglected in general. In that kind of environment, children don’t get the love and support they need, so they act out.
Many studies prove that children who experience neglect or abuse are more likely to be involved in crimes. Of course, not all children from complex backgrounds will turn to violence or other crimes, but it does increase the odds. Many of these children lack a positive influence in their lives who can provide a healthy outlet.
King Randall believes that every young child deserves a positive, healthy upbringing. If they don’t have that at home, they should at least have good examples at school. That’s why King Randall wants to open a charter school for the boys in his program. The school will teach automotive repair, home improvement, and reading literacy skills.
The X For Boys charter school gives troubled youth a second chance
In addition to raising boys, King Randall also teaches them. By being a leader for them, he hopes to turn them into leaders in their community. King Randall is trying to purchase a former school building and transform it into a charter school. He contacted the superintendent to tour the building, which was set to be demolished.
He said it needs some work and TLC, but it’s still in excellent condition to open another school. King Randall is trying to raise money to make his dream a reality.
A Go Fund Me Plea:
“The X for Boys is now interested in purchasing a building to start a boarding school for boys in Albany, Georgia. This is a much-needed man-making institution. If there is no one to CONSISTENTLY help our young men, the community and the society will remain the same if our men never are taught to stand up for their families. We need your help to get this building in hope that The X for Boys expands across the country but first starting in Albany, Georgia!”
There are no updates on the Go Fund Me page about the school’s opening. However, an article on Fox News reveals that there’s been a few issues with purchasing it. They’ve been working on closing the deal for the past seven months. King Randal claims that the local school district got cold feet while selling the empty building.
Hopefully, they can reach a deal soon, as many local youths await enrollment in the program. King Randall feels it’s vital for young men in the community to have this opportunity.
The marine veteran revealed an urgent need:
“Our superintendent knows we have children in the juvenile system waiting on this school to be open. We have children that are in foster homes and group homes waiting for this school to be open. We have many parents waiting for this school to be open… I find it absolutely absurd I have to keep telling these children to wait, to wait, to wait.”
According to the interview, the school district said they would donate to the school if King Randall can prove it would benefit the community. He believes the fruits of his labor throughout the two years of raising boys can attest to that.
With his reading literacy programs, he’s increased the reading comprehension rate among the boys to 86%. Many of the boys can’t read when they first meet their mentor. In addition to the improved reading skills, King Randall says that there’s 0% recidivism in his program. So far, no boy mentored by King Randall returned to juvenile detention afterward.
How King Randall Started “The X For Boys”
King Randall knew the importance of having a strong father or father figure in a boy’s life from the start. He believes the lack of guidance from absent fathers leads boys astray. Albany has high crime and low literacy rates, and King Randall realized it’s all interconnected. King Randall is a positive male influence for boys without fathers or with complex home lives.
He wanted to teach young boys how to become men. The idea of raising boys himself didn’t come along until later, when he realized they had nowhere else to turn.
As far as educating the young men, here’s what the Marine veteran has done so far:
- Workshops on automotive repair (oil change, brake repair, alternator replacement, water pump replacement, etc.)
- General contractor workshops (toilet replacement, light fixtures, sheetrock, interior/exterior painting)
- A weekly book club that’s hosted every Monday for the boys to attend after school. It helps to boost reading comprehension and build vocabulary skills.
- The boys also get to receive sex education and have a place to release any stress or issues in a non-judgmental environment.
- The X for Boys has hosted two successful summer camps that King Randall did both years out of his home.
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King Randall says the workshops provide excellent tools for the boys to learn how to make money legally. Learning trades such as these can give them set goals for a positive, stable future.
Final thoughts on the 22-year-old Marine veteran who’s raising boys from troubled homes
King Randall, a young Marine veteran from Albany, Georgia, has stepped up to the plate for boys without fathers. He runs an organization called “The X For Boys,” which teaches boys how to become men. They get to learn essential skills like automotive repair, home improvement, and reading comprehension. Not only that, but they get to have a positive male example in their life. King Randall hopes to open the charter school soon to help even more young men realize their potential.
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