Jason King

Jason King was born to a single mother and started his school career with a love for learning. Growing up closely with various cousins and family members. Jason earned honors classes throughout his schooling, he would consider himself a “nerd” even to this day, until hard times at home convinced him, erroneously, that money and the hustle was needed to help.

Being young and ignorant to his consequences, Jason fell into the system of violence, drug sales and a “street lifestyle/code” that ultimately led to the stereotypical incarceration that so many of the young black men in Grand Rapids, MI succumb to.

During his nearly 10 years of incarceration, Jason found a passion for helping young men and women that had fallen into these same potholes on the ride of life. Seeing an urgent need in the community he grew up in, Jason immediately began to effect change and be a voice for the underrepresented on the Southeast side of Grand Rapids engaging in community advocacy, post-prison. Starting by boycotting a familiar corner store in his neighborhood for mistreatment of the communities they earn their income from, Jason has championed the "disregarded citizens" that are often overlooked. "THE MEASURE OF A MAN IS HOW WELL HE AFFECTS THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM" is a quote that Jason attempts to live his life by, and motivates him to pour his lived experiences into youth to pay it forward and empower them. 

Jason is the proud father of five (5) children, four (4) princesses and one (1) son and continues to work diligently for effective and sustainable change in the thinking of the youth he serves by assisting them in understanding how to think, not necessarily what to think.